Stop, yield, pedestrian crossings and arrows

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Road markings for stop, give way, pedestrian crossings and selection arrows, and the legal weight each of them carries.

Cover, Stop, yield, pedestrian crossings and arrows

Lesson objectives

Understand the obligations imposed by road markings: STOP, yield the right of way and pedestrian crossings Master the meaning of directional arrows and adapt your trajectory accordingly Apply the rules of priority and stopping according to the marking encountered

The STOP road marking

Two different marks are here confused by common usage: the stop line , a continuous white line drawn perpendicular to the edge of the roadway , indicates the place where drivers must make the stop imposed by a signal B5 or by a traffic light signal (art. 76.1 ). It therefore serves not only for STOP: it is also what sets the stopping point at a red light; the word STOP painted on the roadway is an inscription that repeats the indication given by the signal (art. 77.3 ). It is signal B5 that creates the obligation; the inscription reminds you of it.

B5

B5 - STOP. This octagonal red sign orders you to make 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 to all other road users. Warning: a simple slowdown is not enough. This is an infraction.

B7

Signal B7 announces the arrival of signal B5, that is, a STOP. This advance notice warns you that a STOP is coming at the distance indicated by an additional sign, usually one hundred fifty meters. You must anticipate by releasing the accelerator and downshifting. Know that you will have to come to a complete stop at the STOP line.

STOP situation: absolute obligation

You are approaching an intersection. You see the B5 sign (red STOP) and the "STOP" marking on the ground. You must completely immobilize your vehicle at this line, even if there are no other vehicles visible. This is an absolute obligation, not a recommendation.

The "Yield" marking on the ground

Article 76.2 : "A transverse line consisting of white triangles indicates the place where drivers must, if necessary , stop to yield the right of way by virtue of signal B1 ." Three clarifications are contained in this sentence: the stop is only due if necessary , unlike STOP, where it is systematic; the obligation comes from the B1 signal , the mark only locates the point; and what you must do is yield the right of way , which translates into a stop only if traffic requires it.

B1

B1, Yield the right of way. It is a white triangle with a red border, pointing 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 the right of way.

B3

Sign B3 announces the arrival of signal B1, which asks you to yield the right of way. This advance warning sign alerts you in advance, generally at a distance of approximately 150 meters. As soon as you see it, begin to slow down gradually so you can yield the right of way without rushing at the next intersection.

Yield situation: conditional stop

You are approaching an intersection marked by "shark teeth". You see the B1 sign (white triangle with red border). If vehicles are coming from the opposite direction or from the right, you must stop and let them pass. If the road is clear, you can continue without stopping.

Pedestrian crossings on the ground

Article 76.3 : pedestrian crossings are delimited by bands of white color, parallel to the axis of the roadway . It is indeed parallel to the axis , therefore in the direction of traffic, and not perpendicular; this is what gives them, seen from the car, the appearance of ladder rungs. Article 76.4 describes the nearby marking, often confused: the crossings that cyclists and two-wheeled moped riders must use are delimited by two discontinuous lines consisting of white squares or parallelograms . And if the crossing is painted yellow or orange? The text of article 76.3 only provides for white, and the provisional markings of article 73 are orange and concern longitudinal markings. In practice, and this is what the exam retains, a crossing marked in yellow or orange during roadworks has the same value as a white crossing, and takes precedence over the white marking it replaces.

Approach to a pedestrian crossing

Approach the pedestrian crossing at moderate speed , so as not to endanger pedestrians already engaged nor to inconvenience them. You cannot overtake a driver who is slowing down or stopping in front of a pedestrian crossing.

Intersection with STOP markings and yield markings

Directional arrows on the ground

Article 77.1 : white selection arrows may be marked at the approach to an intersection. They mark the lane that drivers must follow to proceed in the indicated direction. And the second paragraph establishes the reciprocal obligation: at the intersection, drivers must follow the direction or one of the directions indicated on the lane in which they are located . The phrase " one of the " matters: a lane may bear several arrows, and the driver then chooses among them. To be distinguished from merge arrows of article 77.2 : they supplement a discontinuous line announcing a continuous one, and announce the reduction in the number of usable lanes in the direction followed.

Directional arrows: obligation of direction

You are driving on a roadway with three lanes. The left lane has an arrow turning left, the middle lane an arrow going straight, the right lane an arrow turning right. You must follow the direction indicated by the arrow in your lane, even if you intended to turn differently.

Intersection with directional arrows on the ground

Priority of yellow markings over white markings

These are orange markings, not yellow, that are provisional. Article 73.1 : provisional markings to channel traffic during roadworks consist of continuous or discontinuous lines of orange color , or orange studs , with the same meaning as their white equivalents. And article 73.4 settles the conflict: "Provisional markings render ineffective other white longitudinal markings traced at the same location." They do not merely "take priority": they neutralize. Yellow , for its part, has only one longitudinal use in the code: the discontinuous line traced at the edge of the roadway, which prohibits parking (art. 75.1, 2°).

Absolute rule: yellow markings take priority

A ground marking that often comes up in the exam: article 77.4 . Directional islands and avoidance zones may be marked by white oblique parallel lines , the "zebras". On these markings, drivers may neither drive, nor stop, nor park . All three at once.

STOP marking

Stop line (art. 76.1): continuous white line drawn perpendicular to the edge of the roadway, indicating where to mark the stop required by a B5 signal or by a traffic light signal.

Shark teeth

Line of white triangles (art. 76.2): transverse line indicating the place where the driver must, if necessary, stop to yield the right of way by virtue of a B1 signal. The stop is only required if traffic demands it.

Pedestrian crossing

Pedestrian crossing (art. 76.3): white bands parallel to the axis of the roadway. The crossing for cyclists and two-wheeled moped riders (art. 76.4) is delimited, for its part, by two discontinuous lines of white squares or parallelograms.

Directional arrow

Selection arrow (art. 77.1): white arrow marked at the approach to an intersection, marking the lane to be taken to go in the indicated direction; at the intersection, the driver must follow the direction or one of the directions shown on his lane. To be distinguished from the merge arrow (art. 77.2), which announces a reduction in the number of lanes.

Key points to remember

Stop line (76.1): continuous white line perpendicular to the edge; it sets the stopping point imposed by a B5 or by a traffic light . White triangles (76.2): point where you must stop if necessary to give way under a B1 . Pedestrian crossing (76.3): white stripes parallel to the axis of the road. Cyclist crossing (76.4): two dashed lines of squares or parallelograms. Selection arrows (77.1): at the intersection, follow the or one of the directions of your lane. Merge arrows (77.2): announce the reduction in the number of lanes. White markings (77.3): they repeat the indication of a signal, they do not create it. Zebras , directional islands and avoidance zones (77.4): prohibition to drive , stop and park there. Orange markings (73.1 to 73.4): temporary, same meaning as white ones, and they cancel the white markings in the same place.

Congratulations!

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

BelgianLicenses

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