Time, days and vehicle categories

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Additional panels for duration, days and vehicle categories: reading time restrictions and knowing whether they apply to you.

Coverage, Time, days and vehicle categories

Lesson objectives

Understand how time and day additional panels restrict the application of a main panel Identify vehicle categories affected by a restriction and apply exceptions Correctly read a panel + additional panel combination to adapt your behaviour

What is an additional panel?

The code does not use the word « additional panel » but rather « additional signal », and it gives the definition in article 65.2 : « The meaning of a road signal may be completed, clarified or limited by an inscription or symbol in white appearing on a rectangular additional panel with a blue background which is fixed below the signal. » Three verbs, three possible effects: complete , clarify , limit . An additional panel never contradicts the main signal, it regulates its application.

Additional panel

Additional panel (art. 65.2): rectangular panel fixed under a signal, which completes, clarifies or limits its meaning. White inscription or symbol on blue background as a general rule; black on white background, models M1 to M24, when it concerns bicycles, personal mobility devices or two-wheeled mopeds; black on white background also for letters B, C, D or E completing signals C24a and D4 (tunnel categories).

Time and day additional panels (Type V)

The code does not number additional panels in « Roman types »: this classification, with its references to articles 12.1ter, 13.1.1 or 70.2.1.3°, does not correspond to any text. The cited articles deal with something else, article 13 is that of announcement of a manoeuvre , and article 70.2.1, 3° is that of signals E9 authorizing parking. What the code actually provides for validity period : article 65.2, last paragraph, « Additional panels indicating a validity period bear inscriptions in black on white background or in white on blue background ». And article 70.2.1 gives examples for E1 and E3: « from 7 to 19 h », « Monday to Friday ».

Type V

Validity period additional panel: it indicates when the signal applies, a time range, days of the week, or both. Article 65.2 specifies its form: inscriptions in black on white background or in white on blue background. Outside the indicated period, the main signal does not apply.

Blue zone with restricted hours

A limited-duration parking zone, signaled by the E9a completed with the disc , with zonal validity (art. 65.5), and not by a signal « ZE1 » which does not exist, may bear a period mention. Reminder of article 27.1.2 : « Unless particular conditions are indicated on the signalization , the use of the disc is mandatory from 9 o'clock to 18 o'clock on working days and for a maximum duration of two hours. » It is therefore the mention on the panel that takes precedence over the general rule.

Caution: permanent 30 zone

A 30 zone signaled by standard (non-luminous) panels applies 24/7 , even during school holidays, weekends and public holidays. No time additional panel can modify this permanence. The 30 km/h limit is always in effect.

Vehicle category additional panels (Type IV)

An additional panel can also designate who the signal applies to, or who is exempt from it. The cases provided for by the code: « Except local traffic » or « except local delivery » under a C3, article 2.47 gives the closed list of beneficiaries; « Except 2+ » or « 3+ » under a C5: the lane is only accessible to vehicles occupied by at least two or three persons and to regular public transport services (art. 68.3); a mass under a C23: the prohibition only applies to vehicles whose MMA exceeds the indicated mass; a vehicle category under an E1 or E3 (art. 70.2.1); « Except residents » in a parking zone, for holders of the resident card referred to in article 27.1.4; models M1 to M24 , in black on white background, for bicycles, personal mobility devices and two-wheeled mopeds.

Type IV a

Type IV. Category of users concerned or exception, article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue panel that specifies who the rule applies to, or who is exempt from it. For example: except residents, except buses, school street with times, street reserved for play, electric or hybrid vehicles for charging spaces, or loading zone. It is a very common panel in built-up areas.

Type IV b Residents

Type IV: category of users concerned or exception, according to article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue panel that specifies who the rule applies to, or who is exempt from it. You may see examples such as « except residents », « except buses », « school street » with times, « street reserved for play », « electric or hybrid vehicles » for charging spaces, or « loading zone ». This type of panel is very common in built-up areas.

Type IV c

Type IV is a category of users concerned or exception, according to article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue sign that specifies who the rule applies to, or who is exempt from it. You may see examples such as « except residents », « except buses », « school street » with times, « street reserved for play », « electric or hybrid vehicles » for charging spaces, or « loading zone ». This type of sign is very common in built-up areas.

Type IV ticket

Type IV: category of users concerned or exception, according to article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue panel that specifies who the rule applies to, or who is exempt from it. You may see examples such as « except residents », « except buses », « school street » with times, « street reserved for play », « electric or hybrid vehicles » for charging spaces, or « loading zone ». This type of panel is very common in built-up areas.

Type IV e

The Type IV sign is a blue sign that specifies who the rule applies to or who is exempt from it. It concerns the category of users concerned or exceptions. You may find mentions such as « except residents », « except buses », « school street » with times, « street reserved for play », « electric or hybrid vehicles » for charging spaces, or « loading zone ». This type of sign is very common in built-up areas.

Type IV f

Type IV: category of users concerned or exception, according to article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue sign that specifies who the rule applies to or who is exempt from it. You may see examples such as « except residents », « except buses », « school street » with times, « street reserved for play », « electric or hybrid vehicles » for charging spaces, or « loading zone ». This type of sign is very common in built-up areas.

Type IV g

Type IV, category of users concerned or exception, article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue sign that specifies who the rule applies to, or who is exempt from it. For example: except residents, except buses, school street with times, street reserved for play, electric or hybrid vehicles for charging spaces, or loading zone. It is a very common sign in built-up areas.

Type IV h

Type IV. Category of users concerned or exception, article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue sign that specifies who the rule applies to or who is exempt from it. You may see examples such as « except residents », « except buses », « school street » with times, « street reserved for play », « electric or hybrid vehicles » for charging spaces, or « loading zone ». This type of sign is very common in built-up areas.

Type IV i Loading zone

Type IV: category of users concerned or exception, according to article 70.2.1.3°. It is a blue sign that specifies who the rule applies to, or who is exempt from it. You may see for example: except residents, except buses, school street with times, street reserved for play, electric or hybrid vehicles for charging spaces, or loading zone. It is a very common sign in built-up areas.

Paid parking except residents

In a limited-duration parking zone, the mention « except residents » refers to persons in possession of the resident parking card from article 27.1.4 . The code adds a clarification: the municipal parking card replaces the parking disc . Similarly, the mention « paid » means that the driver must use a paid parking card (art. 70.2.1, 2°).

Speed limit for heavy vehicles

Under a C43 , article 68.3 expressly provides: « when a mass is indicated on an additional sign, the prohibition only applies to vehicles whose maximum authorized mass exceeds the fixed limit ». A speed limit of 90 km/h with « 3.5 t » therefore does not apply to private cars. The same article also provides that the mention « km » on the C43 is optional .

Common combinations in Belgium

Here are the sign + supplementary sign associations you will encounter most often on Belgian roads:

Combination Meaning Who is concerned? Blue zone (ZE1) + Type V times Disc mandatory only during the indicated times All drivers, but only at the specified hours Blue zone (ZE1) + Type IV residents Disc mandatory for all EXCEPT residents Visitors and non-residents Speed limit (C43) + Type IV heavy vehicles Reduced speed limit for trucks only Vehicles > 3.5 t Regulated parking (ZE9a) + Type V weekdays Payment or limited duration on weekdays only All drivers, but only Monday–Friday Access prohibition (C3) + Type IV taxis Access prohibited except for taxis Taxis authorized; other vehicles prohibited

Speed limit sign with vehicle category supplementary sign

Blue zone with supplementary sign for times and residents

How to correctly read a sign + supplementary sign?

Step 1: First read the main sign (the large one) to know the general rule Step 2: Look at the blue supplementary sign below to see if there is a restriction or exception Step 3: Apply the rule only if you are concerned (right day, right time, right vehicle category) Step 4: In case of doubt, prefer the restriction : it is better to be cautious than to commit an infraction

Exam tip

In the exam, if you are shown a sign with a supplementary sign, always read both . The supplementary sign often changes the answer! For example: « Can you park here? » → Look at the sign AND the supplementary sign (times? residents?) « What is the speed limit? » → Check if a supplementary sign applies it only to certain vehicles

Other useful supplementary signs

Beyond Type V (time/days) and Type IV (categories), other supplementary signs complement the main signals:

Type I

Additional distance panel: it indicates at what approximate distance what the signal announces begins. The code provides for it signal by signal, article 66.2 for danger signals placed otherwise than at 150 m, article 68.2 for the announcement of a prohibition, article 69.2 for that of an obligation, and articles 67.3 for signals B3, B7 and B13 which announce respectively B1, B5 and B11.

Type II

Additional length panel: article 66.3 provides that the length of a dangerous section of the public road may be indicated by an additional panel. Under a stop and parking signal, article 70.2.2 likewise provides for a panel mentioning the distance over which the prohibition or authorization applies.

Type III

Under a signal A51, danger not defined by a special symbol, the annex expressly provides that « an additional panel indicates the nature of the danger ». This is the only case where the additional panel carries the essential information: without it, the A51 says nothing.

Type VI

Additional « REMINDER » panel: it signals that the current regulation has already been announced earlier. Article 70.2.2 gives its precise use for stop and parking: over a long distance, a signal identical to that at the beginning is repeated as a reminder, supplemented by the corresponding panel.

Type VII a 3.5t

Under a parking signal, the additional panel may impose a particular condition: the parking disc reproduced on the panel makes its use mandatory on the side where parking is authorized, the mention « paid » imposes the paid parking card, and the mention « except residents » reserves the exemption to holders of the resident card (art. 70.2.1, 2°).

Type VIII b

Parking mode: these are signals E9e, E9f and E9g that impose it, mandatory parking on the shoulder or pavement, partly on the shoulder or pavement, or on the roadway (art. 70.2.1, 3°). These are not additional panels but full signals of the E9 series.

Type X

Additional panels of signals C24a and D4: they bear the letters B, C, D or E in black on white background and designate the categories of tunnels whose access is prohibited to vehicles carrying dangerous goods, within the meaning of article 1.9.5.2 of annex A of the ADR agreement (art. 65.2 and 68.3).

Type XI b

Additional panel of model M: models M21 to M24 deserve to be known, M21 personal mobility devices, M22 shared personal mobility devices, M23 shared bicycles, M24 shared bicycles and personal mobility devices. Article 65.2 specifies that these symbols may be combined on a single additional panel of model M.

Key points to remember

Article 65.2 : the additional panel completes, clarifies or limits the meaning of the signal. White on blue background as a general rule; black on white background for models M1 to M24 (bicycles, personal mobility devices, two-wheeled mopeds) and for tunnel letters of C24a and D4. Period of validity : inscriptions in black on white background or in white on blue background. It takes precedence over the general rule, thus, in blue zone, over the 9 a.m.–6 p.m. of article 27.1.2. Category targeted or excepted : « except local traffic » (closed list of art. 2.47), « except 2+ / 3+ » under a C5, a mass under a C23 or a C43 (it is the MMA that counts), « except residents ». Distance and length : art. 66.2 and 66.3 for dangers, 68.2 and 69.2 for announcements of prohibition and obligation, 70.2.2 for stop and parking. A51 : it is the additional panel that indicates the nature of the danger . The « types I to XI » and articles 12.1ter, 13.1.1 or 70.2.1.3° do not exist as a classification of additional panels.

And now?

First do the quiz of this lesson to validate your learning, then practice on the exam simulator and the MCQs . Next lesson: Common combinations in Belgium .

BelgianLicenses

Theory without practice is forgotten: continue with the MCQs to durably anchor your learning.