Step 4 of 35Pedestrians and crossings
Chapter 1 · 10 rules

Pedestrians and crossings

Know who counts as a pedestrian and what you must do at crossings, stops and pedestrian zones.

1. Pedestrians2. Zebra crossings3. Stops and pedestrian zones

Section 1Pedestrians

1

Who is a pedestrian

Official source · art. 42.1 · last amended 2022-10-01De voetgangers gebruiken in volgorde van aanwezigheid de volgende toegankelijke en begaanbare delen van de openbare weg: 1° het trottoir of het deel van de openbare weg gesignaleerd door het verkeersbord D9, D10 of D11; 2° het deel van de openbare weg gesignaleerd door het verkeersbord D13; 3° de …Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 42.2.1 · last amended 2016-10-01Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 2.13 · last amended 2024-02-01Open the full article on Justel
Someone on foot. Also someone pushing a shopping cart, wheelbarrow, wheelchair, or a bicycle or two-wheeled moped. Someone pushing a car or motorbike is not a pedestrian but a driver (see Lesson 5).
2

Where pedestrians walk

Official source · art. 42.1 · last amended 2022-10-01De voetgangers gebruiken in volgorde van aanwezigheid de volgende toegankelijke en begaanbare delen van de openbare weg: 1° het trottoir of het deel van de openbare weg gesignaleerd door het verkeersbord D9, D10 of D11; 2° het deel van de openbare weg gesignaleerd door het verkeersbord D13; 3° de …Open the full article on Justel
On the pavement or verge. If there is none, they may use the cycle lane or the carriageway.

Section 2Zebra crossings

3

Zebra crossing

Official source · art. 42.4.1 · last amended 2019-05-31Open the full article on Justel
The blue traffic sign is placed at the pedestrian crossing. An elderly woman in a navy coat with a shopping trolley is standing at the zebra crossing.

[L07_04_0.jpg] The blue traffic sign is placed at the pedestrian crossing. An elderly woman in a navy coat with a shopping trolley is standing at the zebra crossing.

A red warning sign stands about 150 m before it and a blue sign at the crossing. If a crossing is less than about 20 m away, pedestrians must use it.
About 150 m before
At the crossing
4

Winged crossing

Official source · art. 76.3De oversteekplaatsen voor voetgangers worden afgebakend door witte banden, evenwijdig met de as van de rijbaan.Open the full article on Justel
A winged pedestrian crossing: the white stripes are extended back against the direction of the traffic, so drivers stop further from the crossing point and can see pedestrians better, especially truck drivers sitting high. The green estate car stops before the long stripes.

[L07_05_0.jpg] A winged pedestrian crossing: the white stripes are extended back against the direction of the traffic, so drivers stop further from the crossing point and can see pedestrians better, especially truck drivers sitting high. The green estate car stops before the long stripes.

Wider markings make the crossing easier to see, especially for truck drivers who sit high.
5

Priority

Official source · art. 40.4.2 · last amended 1996-04-01Hij moet voorrang verlenen aan de voetgangers die er zich op bevinden of op het punt staan zich erop te begeven.Open the full article on Justel
The approaching silver saloon must slow down and give priority to the pedestrian waiting at the edge of the zebra crossing who intends to cross.

[anim:zebra] Pedestrian crossing

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Pedestrians on the crossing or about to step onto it have priority. Approach carefully.
6

Crossing elsewhere

Official source · art. 42.4.4 · last amended 2022-10-01Op de plaatsen waar het verkeer noch door een bevoegd persoon, noch door verkeerslichten geregeld wordt, mogen de voetgangers zich slechts voorzichtig op de rijbaan begeven en met inachtneming van de naderende voertuigen.Open the full article on Justel
Where there is no zebra crossing, pedestrians must give way to road traffic. The pedestrian waiting at the kerb must let the approaching car pass before crossing.

[anim:pedestrian-no-zebra] Crossing without a zebra crossing

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Pedestrians who cross away from a crossing must give way to traffic.
7

No overtaking at a crossing

Official source · art. 17.2.5° · last amended 2023-04-01Wanneer de in te halen bestuurder stopt voor een oversteekplaats voor voetgangers of een oversteekplaats voor fietsers en bestuurders van tweewielige bromfietsen (of deze oversteekplaatsen nadert) op plaatsen waar het verkeer niet geregeld wordt door een bevoegd persoon of door verkeerslichten.Open the full article on Justel
You may not overtake on the left a driver who slows down or stops in front of a zebra crossing. What the driver of the blue car is doing, passing the stopped white car, is strictly forbidden.
You are not allowed to overtake the orange car on the left as it approaches a crossing for cyclists.

[L07_07_0.jpg] You may not overtake on the left a driver who slows down or stops in front of a zebra crossing. What the driver of the blue car is doing, passing the stopped white car, is strictly forbidden.

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Do not overtake on the left a vehicle that is approaching, slowing down or stopped at a pedestrian or cyclist crossing, when there are no traffic lights or authorised person directing traffic.
8

No stopping before a crossing

Official source · art. 24.4°op de oversteekplaatsen voor voetgangers, op de oversteekplaatsen voor fietsers en bestuurders van tweewielige bromfietsen en op de rijbaan op minder dan 5 meter vóór deze oversteekplaatsen;Open the full article on Justel
You may not be stationary or park on the road within 5 metres before a pedestrian crossing.

[L07_08_0.jpg] You may not be stationary or park on the road within 5 metres before a pedestrian crossing.

No stopping or parking on a pedestrian crossing or within 5 m before it. After the crossing it is allowed, unless signs say otherwise.

Section 3Stops and pedestrian zones

9

Bus or tram stop without an island

Official source · art. 40.3.2 · last amended 2004-01-01Bij afwezigheid van een vluchtheuvel aan de halteplaats van een voertuig voor gemeenschappelijk vervoer, moet de bestuurder die rijdt langs de kant waar de reizigers in- of uitstappen, dezen de gelegenheid laten in alle veiligheid het voertuig, het trottoir, (het deel van de openbare weg …Open the full article on Justel
Because the tram stops on the carriageway without a boarding island, the orange car must stop to allow passengers to cross the roadway safely.

[anim:tram-stop-boarding] A tram stops with no island

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When a bus or tram stops on the road and there is no island, drivers on the side where people get on or off must stop and let them cross safely. Then drive on at moderate speed.
10

Pedestrian zone

Official source · art. 22sexies.1Tot voetgangerszones hebben alleen voetgangers toegang.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 22sexies.2De bestuurders die er mogen in rijden, moeten stapvoets rijden; ze moeten de doorgang vrij laten voor de voetgangers en zo nodig stoppen.Open the full article on Justel
Pedestrian zone: walking pace, pedestrians first.

[pedestrian_zone.jpg] Pedestrian zone: walking pace, pedestrians first.

Blue signs mark the start and end. Only permitted vehicles may enter. Drive at walking pace, keep a path free, stop if needed and never hinder pedestrians.
Start of pedestrian zone
End of pedestrian zone

Signs in this lesson

No pedestrians

Test yourself

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EasyWarm-up: the key facts of this lesson, one step at a time.17 questions
NormalTest level: situations and pictures like on the real test.32 questions
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