Stop, yield, priority road

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Signs B1, B5 and B9: who must give way and who keeps priority. The legal duty attached to each sign, with Belgian examples.

Coverage, Stop, yield, priority road

Lesson objectives

Distinguish the three major priority signals (STOP, Yield, Priority road) and their respective obligations Apply the correct priority rules according to the sign encountered Recognize road markings and additional signs that complement these signals

The three pillars of priority

In Belgium, three signals govern priority at intersections. Each imposes a distinct and non-negotiable obligation . Confusing these signals is a common exam mistake, you must master them perfectly.

STOP: absolute obligation to stop

B5

B5, STOP. Octagonal red sign. You must completely immobilize your vehicle at the stop line. This is called "marking the stop" under the Road Code. Then you yield to all other road users. Mere slowing down constitutes an infraction.

The STOP sign (octagonal red) imposes two cumulative obligations : Complete stop : you must completely immobilize your vehicle at the stop line, wheels locked Yield priority : you must let pass all users coming from directions that have priority Critical point: you must stop even if the intersection is empty . The absence of traffic does not exempt you from stopping.

B7

B7, Sign announcing the B5 signal at the approximately indicated distance. The additional sign bears this distance: it is not a fixed value. Anticipate by easing off the accelerator, because at B5 you will need to completely immobilize the vehicle.

The B7 announces a STOP " at the approximately indicated distance " (art. 67.3), the distance appears on the additional sign , it is not fixed at 150 m by the code. The 150 m concerns danger signals (art. 66.2), not priority signals.

Yield: conditional stop

B1

B1: Yield. It is a white triangle with a red border, point downward. At the intersection, you must let pass all drivers traveling on the road you are crossing. Slow down sufficiently in advance. You are not required to stop if the road is clear, but you must be ready to yield priority.

The inverted triangle (white with red border) means yield . Unlike STOP: You must let pass drivers on the cross road You must only stop if necessary , if no driver is coming, you can proceed without stopping The road marking "shark teeth" (triangles pointing downward) indicates where you must stop if necessary

B3

B3, Sign announcing the B1 signal at the approximately indicated distance. The distance is shown on the additional sign. Slow down now so you can yield without harsh braking.

The B3 announces a "Yield" at the approximately indicated distance on the sign. Remember the principle common to all three announcement signals, B3 for B1, B7 for B5, B13 for B11: it is always the indicated distance that applies.

Shark teeth

Road marking consisting of triangles pointing downward. Indicates the stop line where you must immobilize if necessary facing a "Yield" sign.

Priority road: freedom of movement

B9

B9, Priority road. It is a yellow diamond bordered in white. You are traveling on a road that has priority at the following intersections. Other users must yield to you, unless otherwise indicated. Remain vigilant: priority never exempts you from attention to pedestrians and cyclists.

The yellow diamond bordered in white indicates that you are traveling on a priority road . This means: You have priority at the following intersections You do not need to yield to drivers coming from the right or left You can overtake another vehicle on the left at intersections, if the maneuver is safe

B11

The B11 sign signals the end of priority road. It is a yellow diamond crossed out. From this point on, your road no longer has priority. At the next intersections, you must again respect the usual rules: right-of-way priority, STOP signs, or yield according to the signs you encounter.

The crossed-out yellow diamond (B11) announces the end of the priority road . From this signal onward, you no longer have priority. At the next intersections, you must apply the usual priority rules (yield or right-of-way priority).

B13

B13, Sign announcing the B11 signal at the approximately indicated distance. It warns you that your priority road status will end, at the distance shown on the additional sign.

The B13 announces the end of priority road at the approximately indicated distance . None of the three announcements (B3, B7, B13) has a fixed distance.

Priority at a single intersection

B15 A

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It shows a diagram of an intersection with a priority road. The shape of the intersection is represented on the sign. A thicker line shows the branch that has priority. You must identify which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

B15 B

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It shows a diagram of the intersection with its priority road. The thicker line shows the branch that has priority. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

B15 C

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It shows the diagram of the intersection with the priority road. The thicker line represents the branch that has priority. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

B15 D

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It shows a diagram of an intersection where the thicker line shows the branch that has priority. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

B15 E

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It shows a diagram of the intersection with its priority road. The thicker line shows the branch that has priority. You must identify which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

B15 F

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It represents the diagram of the intersection with the priority road. The thicker line shows the branch that has priority. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

B15 G

Sign B15 indicates right of way. It represents the diagram of the intersection with the priority road. The thicker line shows the branch that has priority. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must give way.

The B15 indicates right of way at the intersection shown on the symbol: the thicker bar represents the priority road, and article 67.3 specifies that « the horizontal bar of the symbol may be modified to more clearly represent the layout of the location ». This is where the many variants you will encounter come from, the code does not number them from A to G; there is only one signal, the B15, whose design adapts to the intersection. Difference with the B9 : the B9 places your road in priority regime until the B11, while the B15 only regulates the intersection shown .

Special cases: narrow passages and unsignalized intersections

B19

Sign B19: Narrow passage. You must give way to traffic coming in the opposite direction. On a narrowing, such as a narrow bridge or roadworks, vehicles coming from ahead have priority. You must let them pass first. Stop if necessary and only proceed when the passage is completely clear.

B21

Sign B21: Narrow passage. This sign means you have priority over traffic coming in the opposite direction. On a narrowing, vehicles coming from ahead must stop to let you pass. Remain courteous and vigilant, especially if a user from ahead does not seem to see you.

B19 : on a narrowing (narrow bridge, roadworks), you must give way to drivers coming in the opposite direction. B21 : on a narrowing, you have priority over drivers coming in the opposite direction.

B17

At intersection B17, right-of-way from the right applies. The sign is a triangle with a cross in the center. There is neither STOP nor yield at this intersection. The general rule of right-of-way from the right applies. You must check carefully to your right and give way to vehicles coming from there.

Sign B17 (triangle with cross) indicates an intersection where right-of-way from the right applies . There is neither STOP, nor « Yield », nor priority road. At this intersection, you must give way to drivers coming from your right.

Right-of-way from the right

Default rule in Belgium: every driver must give way to one arriving from their right, unless otherwise signaled (STOP, Yield, Priority road).

Overtaking and right of way: related rules

Article 17.2, 2° distinguishes two situations when approaching an intersection: a) at intersections where right-of-way from the right is applicable, overtaking on the left is prohibited for all ; b) at other intersections, it is only prohibited for drivers who must give way , so under a B1 or B5, but not on a priority road. Reminder: the prohibition only concerns overtaking on the left of a towed vehicle, a two-wheeled motor vehicle or a vehicle with more than two wheels .

Additional signs: watch for cyclists and mopeds

Article 67.4 provides for two additions: 67.4.1° , an additional sign M9 or M10 can supplement signals B1, B5 and B17 to indicate that cyclists, or cyclists and two-wheeled moped drivers, are traveling in both directions on the public road you are approaching. This is a valuable warning: a cyclist may arrive from the side where you do not expect them. 67.4.2° , a sign M1 or M8 can supplement signals B1 and B5 when these only concern cyclists, or cyclists and two-wheeled moped drivers. These signs therefore do not supplement the B3, B7, or B15.

Frequent exam trap : confusing STOP and « Yield ». STOP requires a mandatory stop even if the intersection is empty. « Yield » only requires a stop if drivers are arriving. Read the question carefully.

Intersection with STOP sign and road markings

Intersection with Yield sign and shark teeth markings

Road with yellow priority road sign

B5, STOP : "come to a complete stop and yield the right of way". The stop is required even if the intersection is empty . B1, Yield : stop only if necessary . The line of white triangles (art. 76.2) marks the point. B9, Priority road until B11 (end). B15 : priority at the intersection only shown, with the thick line representing the priority road. B3, B7, B13 : warning signals, always at the distance indicated on the supplementary sign, never at a fixed distance. B17 : reminder that the intersection is governed by right-of-way priority ; it grants nothing to anyone. B19 / B21 : narrow passage, yield the right of way / have priority over those coming in the opposite direction. Overtaking : prohibited for all at a right-of-way intersection; elsewhere, prohibited for those who must yield (art. 17.2, 2°). Art. 6.3 : functioning traffic lights render these priority signals without effect , except flashing yellow-orange, lights above the lanes, and B22 / B23.

What now?

First complete the quiz for this lesson to validate your knowledge, then practice with the exam simulator and MCQs . Next lesson: Intersection and roundabout .

BelgianLicenses

Theory without practice is forgotten: move on to the MCQs to durably anchor your knowledge.