Right of way and its exceptions

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Priority to the right in Belgium and its exceptions: priority roads, exits from property, roundabouts and rail vehicles.

Coverage, Right of way and its exceptions

Lesson objectives

Understand right of way and its conditions of application Identify major exceptions: priority roads, traffic lights, trams and pedestrians Apply the correct rules according to the signage present

Right of way: the general rule

The basic rule can be summed up in one sentence (art. 12.3.1): every driver must give way to the one coming from their right . It has only two exceptions written in the text itself: it does not apply if you are driving in a roundabout , nor if the driver coming from the right is coming from a one-way street . The same article adds two situations where you must give way, regardless of the right: when you emerge from a road with a B1 or B5 signal, and when you emerge from a dirt road or path onto a public road with a carriageway. And article 12.2 requires extra caution everywhere when approaching an intersection.

Right of way

General traffic rule: at an uncontrolled intersection, the driver must let the vehicle coming from their right pass.

Intersection with right of way

Exception 1: Priority roads

When you are driving on a priority road , marked by the B9 sign (yellow diamond) , you have priority at the following intersections. Other vehicles must give way to you, unless a red light or a qualified officer indicates otherwise.

B9

B9, Priority road. It is a yellow diamond bordered in white. You are driving on a road that has priority at the following intersections. Other road users must give way to you, unless indicated otherwise. Stay alert: priority never exempts you from attention towards pedestrians and cyclists.

B11

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

The B11 signal indicates the end of the priority road : beyond it, ordinary rules resume, right of way, or signage encountered. Its arrival may be announced by the B13 signal, which announces it at the distance indicated on the sign.

B15

B15, Right of way. The symbol schematizes the intersection: the thick bar represents the priority road, the thin bar the one that must give way. The code specifies that the horizontal bar of the symbol can be modified to more clearly represent the actual layout of the place, so look at the drawing, not a memorized model, to know which branch you are arriving on.

The B15 is read like a map: the thick line is the priority road, the thin line is the one that gives way. Since the bar of the symbol is adapted to the geometry of the intersection, two B15s from two different intersections may not look alike. Your position on the drawing determines whether you have priority.

Exception 2: Traffic lights

Article 6.3 states the exact rule: the operation of traffic signals at a given location renders ineffective the road priority signals placed on the same road. As long as the light is functioning, a B1, B5 or B9 is neutralized. Be aware of the three exceptions that the text lists: this neutralization does not apply to the flashing yellow-orange light , nor to traffic signals above traffic lanes, nor to B22 and B23 signals. In other words, in front of a flashing yellow light , priority signs regain their full effect , and if there are none, it is right of way.

The hierarchy, as written in article 6: the instructions of qualified officers prevail over road signs and traffic rules (6.1); road signs prevail over traffic rules (6.2); and the operation of traffic lights renders ineffective the priority signals on the same road (6.3). An off or flashing light never says "you have priority": it refers to signs, and failing that to right of way.

Traffic light at an urban intersection

Exception 3: Trams, absolute priority

Article 12.1 is categorical: every road user must give way to rail vehicles , and must for this purpose clear the railway track as soon as possible . This obligation does not depend on right of way or priority signs: it applies even if you are driving on a priority road. A useful clarification: this does not mean that the tram is exempt from the code. Its driver is subject to it like any other road user, in particular, he must respect the traffic signals that concern him. What article 12.1 creates is an obligation that weighs on you , not an exemption for him.

Rail vehicle

Tram or train running on the public road. Article 12.1 requires all other road users to give way to it and to clear the railway track as soon as possible. The driver of the rail vehicle remains, however, subject to the regulations, the priority given to him by article 12.1 is not a general exemption.

Order of passage at an intersection with a tram

Situation: a tram is entering the intersection, a car is coming from your right, you are going straight ahead and no traffic light or officer is regulating the passage. Order of passage: The tram , article 12.1 requires all road users to give way to it, including the car coming from the right The car coming from the right , right-of-way rule (art. 12.3.1) You Note that the car from the right also gives way to the tram: the right-of-way rule only applies between ordinary road users.

Exception 4: Pedestrians, priority at crossings

The code distinguishes two situations, and this is where the exam question lies. Where traffic is not regulated by an officer or traffic lights (art. 40.4.2): you may only approach a pedestrian crossing at moderate speed , and you must give way to pedestrians who are engaged in crossing or about to engage in crossing . Where an officer or traffic lights regulate traffic (art. 40.4.1): even if traffic is open in your direction, you must allow pedestrians lawfully engaged in crossing to complete the crossing at normal speed. Here, the obligation concerns those who have already started, not those waiting at the edge. And when traffic is closed in your direction, you must in any case stop before the crossing. Finally, article 40.5 prohibits entering a pedestrian crossing if congestion risks immobilizing you there.

A21

A21, Pedestrian crossing. A pedestrian crossing is located further ahead. Slow down and be ready to stop to let people engaged in crossing or waiting at the edge of the road pass.

F49

F49, Pedestrian crossing. This sign marks the exact location of a pedestrian crossing on the road. Pedestrians engaged in crossing or clearly intending to cross have priority. Slow down and stop if necessary.

Heavily penalized error: failing to give way to a pedestrian engaged on a pedestrian crossing. But pay attention to the exact wording, as the exam tests it: the pedestrian "about to engage in crossing" is only a priority where there is neither an officer nor traffic lights (art. 40.4.2). Under a green light, the obligation concerns the pedestrian already lawfully engaged in crossing , to whom you must allow to complete the crossing (art. 40.4.1).

Article 17.2, 5° prohibits overtaking on the left when the driver being overtaken is approaching or stopping before a pedestrian crossing or a cycle crossing, but only at places where traffic is not regulated by a qualified officer or traffic signals . In the same article, two prohibitions directly concern priority: overtaking on the left is prohibited in intersections where the right-of-way rule applies (17.2, 2° a), and in other intersections for drivers who must give way under article 12.3.1 (17.2, 2° b).

Special cases: where the right-of-way rule does not apply

Roundabout: the right-of-way rule does not apply to those circulating in the roundabout; this is stated in article 12.3.1 itself One-way street: you do not give way to the driver coming from the right if they emerge from a one-way street Dirt road or path: it is not that the right-of-way rule "does not apply", it is that whoever emerges from it onto a public road with a carriageway must give way to everyone, even if coming from the right (art. 12.3.1 b) Sign B1 or B5: whoever emerges from a road thus marked gives way, regardless of the right (art. 12.3.1 a) Maneuvers: whoever performs a maneuver gives way to all road users (art. 12.4). The code notably mentions: changing lane or file, crossing the road, leaving or entering a parking space, emerging from an adjacent property, making a U-turn, reversing Sidewalk and cycle path: whoever crosses them gives way to those circulating on them (art. 12.4bis)

Priority signs to know

B1

B1, Give way . Triangle with white background and red border, pointing downward. At the intersection, you give way to all drivers traveling on the road you are entering (art. 12.3.1 a). Stopping is not required: if the road is clear, you may proceed, but article 12.5 prohibits you from doing so as long as you cannot pass without risk of accident , taking into account the position, speed and distance of other road users.

B3

B3, Sign announcing the B1 sign at the distance approximately indicated on the sign . The code sets no standard distance: the figure shown is what matters, and it varies from place to place. As soon as you see it, ease off to approach the give-way sign without rushing.

B5

B5, Stop and give way . Octagonal red sign. The code's wording is twofold: you must first completely immobilize the vehicle, then give way. A mere slowdown, however cautious, does not satisfy the first requirement and constitutes a separate offense.

B7

B7, Sign announcing the B5 sign at the distance approximately indicated on the sign . Again, no standard distance in the regulations: read the figure. Anticipate, as B5 requires a complete stop , not a slowdown.

B17

B17, Intersection where the right-of-way rule applies . Triangle with cross: it announces neither STOP nor give-way, it reminds that the general rule of article 12.3.1 applies. A detail the exam likes: overtaking on the left is prohibited in these intersections (art. 17.2, 2° a).

B19

B19, Narrow passage: obligation to give way to oncoming traffic . On a narrowing, narrow bridge, construction site, vehicles from the opposite direction pass first. Stop if necessary and only proceed when the passage is clear.

B21

B21, Narrow passage: right of way over oncoming traffic . This is the counterpart to B19: here, it is up to them to let you pass. Priority does not exempt you from the caution of article 12.5 if an oncoming user proceeds anyway.

Summary: hierarchy of priorities

The hierarchy as written in article 6

Rank What takes precedence Text 1 The instructions of qualified officers , on road signs as well as on traffic rules art. 6.1 2 The operation of traffic lights , which renders ineffective the priority signals placed on the same road art. 6.3 3 Road signs (B1, B5, B9, B15, B17, B19, B21), on traffic rules art. 6.2 4 Traffic rules : right of way, obligations of the maneuvering vehicle art. 12.3.1, 12.4 Three reservations that run through the entire hierarchy , Rail vehicles : every user gives way to them and clears the railway track as soon as possible art. 12.1 , Pedestrians at crossing : engaged or about to engage without lights or officer; regularly engaged under lights or officer art. 40.4.1 and 40.4.2 , The flashing yellow-orange light , signals above crossings and signals B22 and B23 escape the neutralization of article 6.3 art. 6.3

Key points to remember

Right of way (art. 12.3.1): give way to whoever comes from your right. Two exceptions in the text itself: you are circulating in a roundabout , or the one from the right comes from a no entry You give way regardless of the right if you emerge from a road with B1 or B5 , or from a dirt road or path onto a road with a carriageway Maneuver (art. 12.4): whoever is maneuvering gives way to everyone, lane change, U-turn, reverse, exit from parking, exit from residential property Zipper merge (art. 12bis): when a lane ends and traffic is heavily slowed, you merge just before the narrowing , and those in the free lane give way in turn Hierarchy (art. 6): officers → lights (which neutralize priority signals on the same road) → signs → traffic rules Flashing yellow : priority signals resume effect; it is not "my turn to go" Rail vehicles (art. 12.1): every user gives way to them and clears the railway track Pedestrians : without lights or officer, priority to those who are engaged or about to engage (art. 40.4.2); under lights or officer, let those who are regularly engaged complete the crossing (art. 40.4.1) B3, B7, B13 announce B1, B5 and B11 at the distance shown on the sign , the code does not set 150 m

What now?

First do the quiz of this lesson to validate your learning, then practice on the exam simulator and the MCQs . Next lesson: Emergencies, trams and pedestrians .

BelgianLicenses

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