Step 2 of 35Lanes and lines
Chapter 1 · 15 rules

Lanes and lines

Choose the right lane, read the white and orange lines, and handle merging, bus lanes and road works.

1. Lanes and position2. Lines and overtaking3. When a lane ends4. Bus lanes5. Road works

Section 1Lanes and position

1

Lanes

Official source · art. 2.2 · last amended 2003-06-01Open the full article on Justel
Broken white lines divide this carriageway into three lanes.

[L02_01_1.jpg] Broken white lines divide this carriageway into three lanes.

Painted lines split the carriageway into lanes. A solid or broken white line can divide the road into two, three or more lanes.
2

Arrows on the lanes

Official source · art. 77.1 · last amended 2022-10-01Op het kruispunt moeten de bestuurders bovendien de of een van de richtingen volgen die aangewezen zijn op de rijstrook waarin zij zich bevinden.Open the full article on Justel
The painted arrow on the road surface shows the direction you must follow at the junction, meaning drivers in this lane must turn left.

[L02_02_0.jpg] The painted arrow on the road surface shows the direction you must follow at the junction, meaning drivers in this lane must turn left.

Arrows painted near a junction show which way each lane must go. A blue sign beside the road can show the same.
Examplea lane with a left arrow is for turning left only.
Lane choice: two lanes
Lane choice: four lanes
3

Keep right

Official source · art. 9.3.1 · last amended 2004-04-30Elke bestuurder die de rijbaan volgt moet zo dicht mogelijk bij de rechterrand van die rijbaan blijvenOpen the full article on Justel
Drivers must stay as far to the right of the carriageway as possible. The white crossover SUV correctly follows the right side rather than driving in the middle.
Under normal circumstances, the bright red car must keep to the right lane. Driving or remaining in the left lane without a valid reason is an offence.
When a road has two clearly separated carriageways, drivers may not use the carriageway on the left in their direction of travel. The white panel van drives correctly on the right carriageway, while the dark blue sedan is not permitted there.

[L01_10_0.jpg] Drivers must stay as far to the right of the carriageway as possible. The white crossover SUV correctly follows the right side rather than driving in the middle.

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Drive as far right as possible, and with several lanes use the right lane. Driving in the middle or the left lane for no reason is an offence. On a road with two separate carriageways, do not use the left one unless signs or police tell you to.

Section 2Lines and overtaking

4

Broken line

Official source · art. 72.3 · last amended 2023-04-01Een onderbroken streep betekent dat het iedere bestuurder verboden is deze te overschrijden, behalve om in te halen, om links af te slaan, om te keren of om van rijstrook te veranderen.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 72.1 · last amended 2023-04-01Deze wegmarkeringen zijn wit en kunnen bestaan uit : 1° een doorlopende streep; 2° een onderbroken streep; 3° een naast elkaar getrokken doorlopende en onderbroken streep.Open the full article on Justel
You may cross the broken white line to overtake when the vehicle ahead travels slower than the speed limit. Here, the faster bright red car uses the left lane to pass the slower yellow car.

[L02_05_0.jpg] You may cross the broken white line to overtake when the vehicle ahead travels slower than the speed limit. Here, the faster bright red car uses the left lane to pass the slower yellow car.

If the driver ahead is going slower than the limit, you may cross a broken white line to overtake, unless a sign forbids it.
5

Solid line

Official source · art. 72.2 · last amended 2023-04-01Een doorlopende streep betekent dat het iedere bestuurder verboden is deze te overschrijden.Open the full article on Justel

[anim:solid-line] A solid white line

You may not cross a solid white line to overtake.
6

Solid and broken line side by side

Official source · art. 72.4 · last amended 2023-04-01Wanneer een doorlopende en een onderbroken streep naast elkaar getrokken zijn, moet de bestuurder alleen rekening houden met de streep die zich aan zijn kant bevindt.Open the full article on Justel
The dark blue car has the broken line on its side and may cross it to overtake. Once it has overtaken, the bright red car is allowed to cross the continuous white line to return to the right lane.

[L02_07_0.jpg] The dark blue car has the broken line on its side and may cross it to overtake. Once it has overtaken, the bright red car is allowed to cross the continuous white line to return to the right lane.

Look at the line on your side. If the broken line is on your side, you may cross to overtake and cross the solid line to come back after passing.
7

Slanted white lines (gore)

Official source · art. 77.4 · last amended 1997-10-01De bestuurders mogen niet rijden, stilstaan of parkeren op deze markeringen.Open the full article on Justel
A dark blue estate car is on a traffic displacement area marked with slanted white lines. Driving, waiting, or parking on a gore is not allowed.

[L02_16_0.jpg] A dark blue estate car is on a traffic displacement area marked with slanted white lines. Driving, waiting, or parking on a gore is not allowed.

An area of solid slanted white lines: no driving, waiting or parking on it.

Section 3When a lane ends

8

Lane reduction signs

Official source · art. 71.2 · last amended 2022-10-0171.2. De voornaamste aanwijzingsborden worden hierna afgebeeld.Open the full article on Justel
The blue sign on the right indicates a lane reduction on the left. The road markings show this reduction as the bright red car drives in the right lane.

[L02_08_0.jpg] The blue sign on the right indicates a lane reduction on the left. The road markings show this reduction as the bright red car drives in the right lane.

Two blue signs warn that a lane is ending: one for a lane closing on the left, one on the right.
Left lane ends
Right lane ends
9

Zip merging: when

Official source · art. 12bisDe bestuurders die, bij sterk vertraagd verkeer, rijden op een rijstrook die ophoudt of waarop het verder rijden wordt verhinderd, mogen slechts vlak voor de versmalling invoegen in de aangrenzende vrije rijstrook.Open the full article on Justel
When a lane is closed and traffic is slow, cars merge like a zip, one from each side in turn: 1, 2, 3 and so on up to 6. The yellow arrows show the cars from the closed lane crossing into the gaps.

[L02_09_0.jpg] When a lane is closed and traffic is slow, cars merge like a zip, one from each side in turn: 1, 2, 3 and so on up to 6. The yellow arrows show the cars from the closed lane crossing into the gaps.

Zipping is compulsory in heavily slowed traffic when a lane ends or is blocked, for example by road works, an obstacle or an accident.
10

Zip merging: how

Official source · art. 12bisDe bestuurders die, bij sterk vertraagd verkeer, rijden op een rijstrook die ophoudt of waarop het verder rijden wordt verhinderd, mogen slechts vlak voor de versmalling invoegen in de aangrenzende vrije rijstrook.Open the full article on Justel

[anim:zip-merge-v2] Zip merge

Keep using the closing lane right up to the narrowing. Then merge one by one: drivers in the lane that stays open give way, one car at a time. If lanes close on both sides, take turns: right car, left car, then a driver from the open lane.

Section 4Bus lanes

11

What a bus lane is

Sign F17 and wide broken lines mark a bus lane. Regular traffic, like the beige panel van, must stay in the other lanes and is not allowed to drive or park in the bus lane.

[L02_12_0.jpg] Sign F17 and wide broken lines mark a bus lane. Regular traffic, like the beige panel van, must stay in the other lanes and is not allowed to drive or park in the bus lane.

A bus lane is part of the carriageway, marked with wide white dashes or a checkerboard and sign F17. Its sign shows a broken line. A similar sign with a solid line means a special reserved route (see Lesson 7).
Bus lane on the right
Bus lane on the left
Solid line: special reserved route
12

Cars in a bus lane

[anim:bus-lane-v2] The bus lane

You may not drive, park or stop in it, not even to let someone in or out. You may cross it to reach a shop, petrol station or parking space. You may use it for the last metres before a junction to turn left or right, or to drive around an obstacle.
13

Other users of a bus lane

Plates under the bus-lane sign show who else may use the lane: 1 school transport, 2 taxis, 3 bicycles, 4 mopeds, 5 motorcycles, 6 buses and coaches, 7 commuter transport (home to work), 8 cars with at least 2 or 3 people, 9 vehicles promoting sustainable mobility, 10 vehicles transporting disabled people.
Regular vehicles, such as the teal car, may not drive, stop, or park on the bus lane on the right. Drivers may only enter it in the final metres before an intersection to sort for a turn.

[L02_14_0.jpg] Plates under the bus-lane sign show who else may use the lane: 1 school transport, 2 taxis, 3 bicycles, 4 mopeds, 5 motorcycles, 6 buses and coaches, 7 commuter transport (home to work), 8 cars with at least 2 or 3 people, 9 vehicles promoting sustainable mobility, 10 vehicles transporting disabled people.

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Other vehicles (bicycle, moped, motorbike, taxi...) may use it only if a plate under the sign shows them.
Bus lane open to cyclists
Bus lane open to mopeds
Bus lane open to motorcycles
Plate: cyclists
Plate: mopeds
Plate: motorcycles

Section 5Road works

14

Road works sign

Official source · art. 66.4 · last amended 2022-10-01Open the full article on Justel
A warning triangle for road works: slow down and expect changes ahead.
Road works.
15

Orange lines

Official source · art. 73.4 · last amended 1997-10-01De voorlopige markeringen maken de andere witte overlangse markeringen die op dezelfde plaats zijn aangebracht waardeloos.Open the full article on Justel
Follow only the temporary orange markings when both orange and white lines are present. You may drive across the white chevron marking because the orange lines guide traffic through the roadworks.

[anim:roadworks-lines] Orange lines at road works

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Temporary orange lines mean the same as white lines, so a broken orange line may also be crossed. If you see both, follow only the orange ones, even if they send you onto the hard shoulder or across white lines.
Temporary lane diversion ahead
Crossover to the other carriageway
Temporary lane closure ahead
Two-way traffic on one-way carriageway

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