Step 2 of 31The lanes
Step 2 of 31 · 18 rules

The lanes

How the road is split into lanes, what the white lines allow, zip merging, bus lanes and roadworks.

1. Lanes2. Arrows on the lanes3. Which lane to use4. Speed on lanes5. Overtaking over a broken line6. Solid line7. Solid line next to a broken line8. Lane reduction signs9. Zip merge10. When to zip11. Zip rules12. Bus lane13. Exceptions for a bus lane14. Who else may use a bus lane15. Two similar signs16. Gore (traffic displacement area)17. Road works sign18. Orange lines
1

Lanes

Broken white lines divide this carriageway into three lanes.

Broken white lines divide this carriageway into three lanes.

Painted lines split the carriageway into lanes. A solid or broken white line in the middle can divide the road into two, three or more lanes.
§Official source · art. 2.2 · last amended 2003-06-01

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2

Arrows on the lanes

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

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 direction each lane must take. A blue sign beside the road can show the same.
ExampleA lane with a left arrow is for turning left only.
Advance warning or arrow markings, showing your choice of lane. This sign can indicate the different directions. The white line may be broken or solid.
Advance warning or arrow markings, showing your choice of lane. This sign can indicate the different directions. The white line may be broken or solid.
§Official source · art. 77.1 · last amended 2022-10-01

Op het kruispunt moeten de bestuurders bovendien de of een van de richtingen volgen die aangewezen zijn op de rijstrook waarin zij zich bevinden.

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3

Which lane to use

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.

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.

Even with several lanes, you normally drive in the right lane. Staying in the left lane for no reason is an offence.
§Official source · art. 9.3.1 · last amended 2004-04-30

Elke bestuurder die de rijbaan volgt moet zo dicht mogelijk bij de rechterrand van die rijbaan blijven, behalve op pleinen of om de aanwijzingen van de verkeersborden F 13 en F 15 op te volgen.

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4

Speed on lanes

On a road divided into lanes outside built-up areas without specific speed signs, the standard speed limit is 70 km/h in Flanders and Brussels, and 90 km/h in Wallonia.

On a road divided into lanes outside built-up areas without specific speed signs, the standard speed limit is 70 km/h in Flanders and Brussels, and 90 km/h in Wallonia.

Same as on a normal road: 70 in Flanders and Brussels, 90 in Wallonia, unless signs say otherwise.
§Official source · art. 11.2 · last amended 2018-04-01

Buiten de bebouwde kommen is de snelheid beperkt :

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5

Overtaking over a broken line

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.

Overtaking on the left

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If the driver ahead is slower than the limit you may cross a broken white line to overtake, unless a sign forbids it.
§Official source · art. 72.3 · last amended 2023-04-01

Een 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.

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6

Solid line

You are not allowed to drive over a continuous white line when overtaking another vehicle. Crossing the solid line to overtake the green car is not permitted.

A solid white line

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You may not cross a solid white line to overtake.
§Official source · art. 72.2 · last amended 2023-04-01

Een doorlopende streep betekent dat het iedere bestuurder verboden is deze te overschrijden.

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Solid line next to a broken line

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.

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 one is on your side you may cross to overtake, and you may cross the solid one to get back after passing.
§Official source · art. 72.4 · last amended 2023-04-01

Wanneer 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.

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8

Lane reduction signs

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.

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 the number of lanes is shrinking: one for a reduction on the left, one on the right.
Lane reduction to the left.
Lane reduction to the right.
§Official source · art. 71.2 · last amended 2022-10-01

71.2. De voornaamste aanwijzingsborden worden hierna afgebeeld.

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9

Zip merge

When a lane is closed and traffic is slow, cars merge like a zip, one from each side in turn. The teal cars take turns one by one, merging in order from 1 to 6.
When both outer lanes are closed, drivers merge alternately into the open centre lane. Car 1 from the right lane merges first, followed by car 2 from the left, ahead of car 3.

When a lane is closed and traffic is slow, cars merge like a zip, one from each side in turn. The teal cars take turns one by one, merging in order from 1 to 6.

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When traffic is heavily slowed down because a lane is closed, drivers merge like a zip only just before the narrowing, one by one in turn.
§Official source · art. 12bis

De 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.

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10

When to zip

In heavily slowed traffic where a lane ends or is blocked (e.g. by road works, an obstacle or an accident).
§Official source · art. 12bis

De 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.

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11

Zip rules

Zip merge

Zipping is compulsory in heavily slowed traffic. Use the open lane right up to the narrowing. The drivers in the lane that stays open give way, one car at a time. If lanes close on both sides, give way in turn: right car, left car, then the free-lane driver continues.
§Official source · art. 12bis

De 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.

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12

Bus lane

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.

The bus lane

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A bus lane is part of the carriageway. Marked with wide white dashes (or checkerboard) and sign F17. Cars may not drive, park or stop to let someone in or out. You may cross it to reach a shop, petrol station or parking space.
Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane.
§Official source · art. 71.2 · last amended 2022-10-01

Aanduiding van de rijstroken van een rijbaan met een strook voorbehouden voor autobussen.

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13

Exceptions for a bus lane

You may use it only for the last metres before a junction when turning left or right, or to drive around an obstacle.
14

Who else may use a bus lane

Symbols shown on an additional plate indicate who else may use a bus lane, such as taxis, bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, or carpoolers.

Symbols shown on an additional plate indicate who else may use a bus lane, such as taxis, bicycles, mopeds, motorcycles, or carpoolers.

Only if a plate under the sign shows it (bicycle, moped, motorbike, taxi...).
Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane.
Cyclists can use this lane too.
Mopeds can use this lane too.
Motorcycles can use this lane too.
15

Two similar signs

The sign with the broken line means bus lane. The sign with the continuous line is for a special reserved route (lesson 22, 24).
Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane.
Indicates a specific lane reserved for the use of public transport vehicles.
§Official source · art. 71.2 · last amended 2022-10-01

Aanduiding van de rijstroken van een rijbaan met een strook voorbehouden voor autobussen.

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16

Gore (traffic displacement area)

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.

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.

Solid slanted white lines: no driving, waiting or parking on them.
§Official source · art. 77.4 · last amended 1997-10-01

De bestuurders mogen niet rijden, stilstaan of parkeren op deze markeringen.

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17

Road works sign

A warning triangle means road works ahead. Slow down and expect changes.
Road works.
§Official source · art. 66.4 · last amended 2022-10-01

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18

Orange lines

During road works, temporary orange lines override white markings. When both white and orange lines are present, drivers must follow only the temporary orange markings.
When both white and temporary orange lines are present during road works, follow only the orange markings. Drivers must guide their vehicles according to the orange lane demarcations.
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.

Orange lines at road works

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Temporary orange lines at road works have the same meaning as white ones, but if you see both, follow only the orange. If orange lines tell you to use the hard shoulder or cross white lines, that is allowed.
§Official source · art. 73.4 · last amended 1997-10-01

De voorlopige markeringen maken de andere witte overlangse markeringen die op dezelfde plaats zijn aangebracht waardeloos.

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Signs in this lesson

Information (or informative or indication sign)Announces arrows on the road and the lane to choose. The sign can show the different directions. The line between the lanes may be broken.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Announces arrows on the road and the lane to choose. The sign can show the different directions. The line between the lanes may be broken.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Lane reduction to the right.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Lane reduction to the left.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane. Cyclists can use this lane too
Information (or informative or indication sign)Cyclists can use this lane too.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane. Mopeds can use this lane too
Information (or informative or indication sign)Mopeds can use this lane too.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Indicates the lanes and shows which is the bus lane. Motorcycles can use this lane too
Information (or informative or indication sign)Motorcycles can use this lane too.
Warning sign (or danger sign)Road works.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Advance road sign indicating a temporary lane diversion.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Advance road sign indicating a temporary crossover to the other carriageway.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Advance road sign indicating a temporary lane closure.
Information (or informative or indication sign)Advance road sign: two-way traffic on a carriageway that is normally one-way.

Test yourself

Pick a level. Questions you have not seen or got wrong come first.

EasyWarm-up: the key facts of this lesson, one step at a time.22 questions
NormalTest level: situations and pictures like on the real test.45 questions
HardBeyond the test: exceptions, numbers and spot-the-mistake pictures.13 questions
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