Intersection and roundabout

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Priority at Belgian junctions and roundabouts: signs B9, B11 and B5, order of passage and the classic traps of the GOCA exam.

Cover, Intersection and roundabout

Lesson objectives

Master the three key intersection signs: B9 (priority road), B11 (end of priority road) and B5 (STOP) Understand the priority rules specific to roundabouts and their signaling Apply the correct reactions to each sign at an intersection

The three fundamental intersection signs

At an intersection, three priority signs govern your behavior. Each imposes different and clear obligations. Understanding their meaning is essential to pass the exam and drive safely.

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.

You have priority

The B9 places your road in priority regime: at the following intersections, drivers on cross roads must give way to you, and this continues until the B11 signal. On overtaking: article 17.2, 2° prohibits overtaking on the left when approaching an intersection only for those who must give way, except at intersections where right-of-way applies, where the prohibition applies to everyone. Being on a priority road therefore places you in case b), but this does not make overtaking possible everywhere.

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.

End of priority

The B11 sign (crossed yellow diamond) signals the end of priority road . From this point on, your road no longer has priority. At the next intersections, you must apply the normal priority rules (give way or right-of-way depending on the signaling).

B5

B5 - STOP. This octagonal red sign orders you to come to a complete stop and yield the right of way. You must completely immobilize your vehicle at the stop line. This is a legal obligation under the Road Code. Then you yield the right of way to all other road users. Warning: a simple slowdown is not enough. This is an infraction.

Mandatory stop

The B5 sign (red octagon) imposes a STOP . You must absolutely immobilize your vehicle at the stop line, even if the intersection is clear. You must then yield the right of way to all drivers coming from the left and right.

Intersection with B9 sign: you have priority

Priority road

Road marked by the B9 sign (yellow diamond) where you have priority at the following intersections over all drivers coming from transverse roads.

B15 A

The B15 sign indicates priority of passage at an intersection. It shows the diagram of the intersection with a thicker line representing the priority branch. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must yield the right of way.

B15 B

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 C

The B15 sign indicates priority of passage. It shows the diagram of the intersection with a thicker line representing the priority branch. Look at which branch you are arriving on to know if you have priority or if you must yield the right of way.

B15 D

B15 E

The B15 sign indicates priority of passage. It schematizes an intersection with a priority road. The shape of the intersection is represented on the sign, and 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 yield the right of way.

B15 F

B15 G

Priority at the next intersection only

The B15 grants priority only at the represented intersection , whereas the B9 grants it to the entire road until the B11. The code does not number its variants from A to G: there is only one B15 signal, whose article 67.3 allows modifying the horizontal bar of the symbol "so as to more clearly represent the layout of the place". Read the symbol first: the thick bar represents the priority road, and it is the branch by which you arrive that determines whether you have priority or not.

The roundabout: signaling and priority

Article 2.39 defines the roundabout by three cumulative elements: "a roadway where traffic flows in one direction only around a materialized central device , signaled by D5 signals and whose access roads are provided with B1 or B5 signals ". All three count: a simple central island, without D5 or B1/B5 at the entrances, is not a roundabout under the code, it is an ordinary intersection where right-of-way priority applies.

B1

The B1 sign means yield the right of way. It is a white triangle with a red border, pointing downward. At the intersection, you must let all drivers circulating on the road you are crossing pass. Slow down sufficiently in advance. You are not required to stop if the road is clear, but you must be ready to yield priority.

Yield the right of way at the roundabout

It is the B1 (or the B5 ) placed at the entrance that requires you to yield the right of way to those circulating in the ring. The line of white triangles (art. 76.2) marks the point, and stopping is due only if necessary . Article 12.3.1 adds the missing piece: right-of-way priority does not apply to the driver circulating in a roundabout . The one already in the ring does not have to yield the right of way to the one presenting himself on his right to enter. And remember article 9.3.1 : in the ring, you are not required to stay as close as possible to the right edge, you use the lane that best suits your destination, respecting the markings.

Roundabout

Roundabout (art. 2.39): roadway where traffic flows in one direction only around a materialized central device, signaled by D5 signals and whose access roads are provided with B1 or B5 signals. The three conditions are cumulative.

Roundabout with entrance and priority to engaged vehicles

Key differences: simple intersection vs roundabout

Type of intersection Signaling Priority Obligation to stop Intersection with B9 Yellow diamond You have priority No, except red light Intersection with B5 Red octagon STOP You yield the right of way Yes, mandatory Roundabout (B1) Inverted triangle + blue arrows Yield to engaged vehicles No if road is clear, yes if necessary Intersection with B15 Intersection diagram Priority at the next intersection No, except red light

At the exam: common pitfalls

Pitfall 1: Confusing B9 (continuous priority road) and B15 (priority at the next intersection only). B9 = priority at all following intersections. B15 = priority at the next intersection only. Pitfall 2: Forgetting that STOP requires a complete stop, even if the intersection is empty. B1 (yield the right of way) does not require a stop if the road is clear. Pitfall 3: Confusing a roundabout with an ordinary circular place. A true roundabout has all three elements: central island, entrances with B1/B5, and blue signal with arrows.

Right-of-way priority in the absence of signaling

At an intersection without priority signaling, article 12.3.1 applies: every driver yields to the one coming from their right. Two exceptions are stated in the text itself, the rule does not apply if you are driving in a roundabout , nor if the driver coming from the right emerges from a one-way street . And two inversions: you yield to all those traveling on the road you are entering when you emerge from a road marked with a B1 or a B5 , or from a dirt road or a path .

Warning signs: B3 and B7

B3

B3, Sign announcing signal B1 at the approximately indicated distance. It is the additional panel that shows the distance: it is not fixed by the code. Slow down as soon as you see it.

B7

B7, Sign announcing signal B5 at the approximately indicated distance. Again, the distance is the one shown on the panel. Anticipate: at B5, complete immobilization is mandatory.

The three warning signs, B3 for B1, B7 for B5, B13 for B11, always announce the sign « at the approximately indicated distance » on the additional panel. The values of « 125 m » and « 150 m » that appeared here do not exist in any text: the figure of 150 m concerns danger signals (art. 66.2), not priority signals.

Key points to remember

B9 : priority road, until B11 . B15 : priority at the single intersection shown. B5 : stop and yield, even if the intersection is empty. B1 : yield, stop only if necessary. B3, B7, B13 : warnings, always at the distance indicated on the panel. Roundabout (art. 2.39): one-way + materialized central device + D5 + B1 or B5 at entries. Without this, it is not a roundabout. In the ring: no right-of-way priority to yield (art. 12.3.1), no obligation to keep right (art. 9.3.1), no turn signal at entry , turn signal at exit (art. 19.2, 1°). With no signals: right-of-way priority , except roundabout and except driver emerging from a one-way street.

What now?

First take the quiz for this lesson to validate your knowledge, then practice on the exam simulator and the MCQs . You have completed this module. Next module: Practical Application .

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