3 practical situations

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Three typical Belgian junctions worked through step by step: establish the correct order of passage and check your reasoning before the exam.

Cover, 3 practical situations

Lesson objectives

Analyze real intersection situations and identify applicable priority rules Apply signals B1, B5, B9, B11 and B15 to make the right decision Avoid common pitfalls: confusing signs, ignoring signals, misinterpreting an intersection diagram

Situation 1: The intersection with yield sign

You are driving on an ordinary road and approaching an intersection. A white triangle with red border, point downward is placed on your right. What should you do?

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.

Approaching an intersection with yield sign

Analysis and answer

Under a B1 , article 12.3.1 a) specifies to whom you yield: to any other driver traveling on the public road or roadway you are entering , therefore including the one coming from your left , which right-of-way priority would not require you to do. The stop is only due if necessary : the line of white triangles (art. 76.2) marks the point, without making it mandatory.

At an intersection with B1 , slow down well before the stop line. Look left, right and straight ahead. If no vehicle is coming, you can continue without stopping completely, this is the major difference with STOP.

Situation 2: Mandatory STOP

You are driving on a country road. Suddenly, you see an octagonal red sign with the word "STOP" written in white. You are approaching the intersection. What should you do?

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.

Intersection with mandatory STOP signal

Analysis and answer

The B5 means " stop and give way " (art. 67.3). Two cumulative obligations, in this order: complete immobilization at the stop line , continuous white line drawn perpendicular to the edge of the roadway (art. 76.1), then priority given to all those traveling on the approached roadway (art. 12.3.1 a). In the absence of a stop line, you must stop at the level of the sign.

Common exam trap: many candidates think they can "drive slowly" at a STOP if the road seems empty. FALSE. You must stop completely, period. Then check that the road is clear, and restart.

Situation 3: The priority road and its change

You are traveling on a lane marked with a yellow diamond bordered in white : you have priority at the following intersections. Further on, a crossed yellow diamond appears. Note in passing that the B13 could have warned you, "at the distance approximately indicated" on its additional panel, the code does not set any standard distance here.

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.

B11

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

Analysis and answer

The B9 sign (yellow diamond) means you are on a priority road : you have priority at the following intersections. The B11 sign (crossed diamond) means end of priority road : from this point on, you no longer have priority. You must then apply right-of-way priority or respect the priority signals (B1, B5) that will appear.

Transition between priority road and end of priority

When you see the B11 sign (end of priority), slow down immediately and prepare to apply a new priority rule. Do not assume you keep priority: it is the opposite. Be careful at the next intersection.

Priority road

Road marked by the B9 sign (yellow diamond) which gives the driver priority at the following intersections, until the appearance of the B11 sign (end of priority).

Yield

Obligation to slow down and let priority drivers pass before entering the intersection. Unlike STOP, complete stopping is not required if the road is clear.

STOP

Absolute legal obligation to come to a complete stop at the stop line before entering the intersection, even if no other vehicle is visible.

Quick comparison of the three situations

Sign Shape Color Mandatory action Complete stop? B1 (Yield) Triangle pointing downward White / red border Slow down and let pass No (unless necessary) B5 (STOP) Octagon Red / white Stop completely YES, mandatory B9 (Priority road) Diamond Yellow / white Continue with priority No B11 (End of priority) Crossed diamond Yellow / white Prepare for rule change Depends on next sign

Key points to remember

B1 , Yield: slow down, let pass all those traveling on the approached roadway, including those coming from the left; stop only if necessary . B5 , Stop and give way : complete immobilization at the stop line, or at the level of the sign in the absence of a line, even if the intersection is empty . B9 , Priority road, until B11 ends it. Beyond that, we return to ordinary rules: right-of-way priority, or sign encountered. B15 , Priority at the single intersection represented; the thick bar represents the priority road. A signal in light operation at the same location renders these priority signals without effect (art. 6.3), and an officer's instruction takes precedence over everything (art. 6.1).

Congratulations!

First do the quiz for this lesson to validate your learning, then practice on the exam simulator and the MCQs . You have completed this entire course. Congratulations, on to practice!

BelgianLicenses

Passing the exam is about consistency, a little each day, and the code will hold no more secrets.