Places and prohibition signs

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Where overtaking is prohibited in Belgium: crests of hills, blind bends, level crossings and the signs that ban it.

Coverage, Places and prohibition signs

Lesson objectives

Identify the places where overtaking is formally prohibited (bends, hilltops, level crossings) Recognize the overtaking prohibition signs and understand their scope Apply the rules of road markings (continuous vs dashed lines) to know if overtaking is allowed

Places where overtaking is prohibited

Even before the list of places, article 17.1 establishes a general prohibition that applies everywhere and without a sign: overtaking on the left is prohibited when the driver cannot see road users coming in the opposite direction at a sufficient distance to carry out the overtaking without risk of accident . Article 17.2 then adds a list of places and situations. Pay attention to its scope: it only concerns overtaking on the left of a towed vehicle , a two-wheeled motor vehicle or a vehicle with more than two wheels . A bicycle does not fall into any of these three categories.

Bends and hilltops

Overtaking is strictly prohibited : At the top of a hill when visibility is insufficient, you cannot see vehicles coming in the opposite direction In bends where visibility is reduced These zones are dangerous because you risk a head-on collision with a vehicle coming in the opposite direction.

Dangerous bend: reduced visibility

A1a

Caution, dangerous left bend ahead. This sign warns you of a bend to the left considered dangerous, either because of its tight radius or reduced visibility. Before entering it, slow down. Stay well in your lane and avoid overtaking. A vehicle may appear in the opposite direction at the exit of the bend.

A1b

A1b, Dangerous right bend. This sign announces a bend to the right considered dangerous. Slow down well before entering it, keep your vehicle in your lane and remain vigilant at the exit, as a vehicle may appear head-on if it has cut its bend.

A1c

A1c, Double bend or succession of more than two bends, the first to the left. Several bends follow in a zigzag pattern starting with the left. Ease off before the first bend and maintain a moderate speed until the end of the series.

A1d

Double bend or succession of more than two bends, the first to the right. The road will wind starting with the right. Slow down and remain vigilant throughout the area, even between the bends. Avoid any overtaking.

A3

A3, Steep descent. The road will descend sharply. A percentage indicates the slope, for example ten percent. Downshift before the descent to use engine braking and maintain a good distance from the vehicle ahead of you. Avoid continuous braking, as the brakes may overheat.

A5

A5, Steep uphill gradient. A significant hill awaits you. Downshift to maintain power and be patient, as heavy vehicles and buses may travel much more slowly. Do not attempt to overtake blindly at the top of the hill.

Level crossings

Article 17.2, 1° prohibits overtaking on the left at a level crossing marked by signal A45 or A47 , that is, a level crossing without barriers , single track (A45) or multiple tracks (A47). Two exceptions are stated in the text: the prohibition does not apply if the level crossing is equipped with barriers , nor if traffic is controlled by traffic lights . And as everywhere in article 17.2, it only concerns towed vehicles, two-wheeled motor vehicles and vehicles with more than two wheels.

A41

A41, Level crossing with barriers. A crossing with a railway line protected by barriers is approaching. Slow down and be ready to stop as soon as the red lights flash or the barriers start to descend. Never force your way through.

A43

A43, Level crossing without barriers . A crossing with a railway line not protected by barriers. Slow down significantly, look in both directions and only proceed if you can cross the rails without having to stop on them . Not to be confused with a motorway number: « A43 » is here a danger signal code.

Overtaking prohibition signs

Road signs explicitly indicate where overtaking is prohibited. These signals apply from the sign until the next junction , unless otherwise indicated.

C35

From sign C35 until the next junction inclusive, it is prohibited to overtake on the left a towed vehicle or a vehicle with more than two wheels. You can still overtake cycles, mopeds and motorcycles without sidecars. The prohibition applies until signal C37 or the next junction.

What C35 exactly prohibits

Very common mistake: believing that C35 prohibits overtaking any vehicle. The wording of the code is narrower. From the signal until the next junction inclusive , it prohibits overtaking on the left a towed vehicle or a vehicle with more than two wheels . Therefore still overtakeable under a C35: bicycles , two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles without sidecars , since none has more than two wheels and none is a towed vehicle. The prohibition ends at the next junction or at signal C37 .

C37

C37, End of overtaking prohibition. Overtaking is again permitted, in compliance with the usual rules: sufficient visibility, dashed line, no bend or hilltop.

C39

Sign C39 means no overtaking for trucks. Vehicles or trains of vehicles used for the transport of goods with a maximum authorized mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes cannot overtake another motor vehicle. Cars and other road users are not affected by this prohibition.

Sign C39: restriction for heavy vehicles

The C39 sign prohibits overtaking only for trucks and vehicle trains whose laden mass (M.M.A.) exceeds 3,500 kg . Private cars may continue to overtake normally. A truck cannot overtake a bus, but a car can.

C41

C41, End of the overtaking prohibition for trucks. This is the end of sign C39. Heavy vehicles can overtake again, respecting the usual safety rules: visibility, road markings, and distance.

Continuous and broken lines

Road markings also indicate whether overtaking is permitted. White lines drawn on the road surface are essential visual signals:

Road markings and overtaking

Type of line Meaning Overtaking permitted? Broken line on your side You can cross it Yes , if safe conditions Continuous line on your side You cannot cross it No Continuous and broken line (mixed line) Broken on your side = you can cross Yes , if safe conditions

Road marking: broken line allowing overtaking

Always ensure that overtaking can be done safely.

 In this case, the oncoming car does not allow it.

Exam tip

In the exam, you will often be shown an image of a road with markings. First look at your side of the road : If the line is broken → you can overtake If the line is continuous → you cannot overtake If it's a mixed line (continuous + broken) → look at which side is broken

Common trap: the continuous line on the other side

Many candidates make a mistake: if the continuous line is on the opposite side (opposite direction), it does not prohibit you from overtaking. Only the line on your side matters for your maneuver. The continuous line on the other side means that vehicles in the opposite direction cannot overtake.

Two rules often forgotten: intersections and trams

At intersections (art. 17.2, 2°), two distinct cases: at intersections where right-of-way applies , the prohibition applies to everyone ; at other intersections, it applies only to drivers who must yield under article 12.3.1. Rail vehicles (art. 16.9): their overtaking on the road is done on the right , whether they are moving or stopped for passenger boarding. Overtaking on the left is only permitted if the right is impassable (passage too narrow, stationary vehicle, fixed obstacle), provided it does not obstruct oncoming traffic, or, on one-way roads, when traffic conditions justify it. In a cycle zone (art. 22novies), motor vehicles have access but cannot overtake cyclists , and speed never exceeds 30 km/h .

Solid line

White line drawn continuously on the road surface. It prohibits crossing it to overtake. You cannot drive to the left of a continuous line that separates the two directions of traffic.

Broken line

White line drawn in segments (dashes) on the road surface. It allows crossing it to overtake, provided the maneuver is safe and visibility conditions are sufficient.

Sign C35

No overtaking signal. From the sign to the next intersection inclusive , it prohibits overtaking on the left a towed vehicle or a vehicle with more than two wheels , and not "any vehicle". Bicycles, two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles without sidecar remain overtakable. End of prohibition: sign C37 .

M.M.A. (Maximum Authorized Mass)

Maximum weight a vehicle can carry, including load. Sign C39 applies to vehicles whose M.M.A. exceeds 3,500 kg.

Key points to remember

General prohibition of article 17.1 : no overtaking on the left if you cannot see oncoming users at a sufficient distance The list in article 17.2 concerns only towed vehicles , two-wheeled motor vehicles and vehicles with more than two wheels , not bicycles Hill crests and bends without visibility, except if overtaking is done without crossing the continuous line Level crossing marked A45 or A47 , except if it has barriers or is controlled by lights Intersections : at right-of-way intersections, prohibited for all; elsewhere, prohibited for those who must yield C35 : towed vehicle or vehicle with more than two wheels only, to the next intersection; C39 : same prohibition, for goods transport only exceeding 3,500 kg Continuous line on your side: crossing prohibited; juxtaposed lines : only the one on your side matters (art. 72.2 and 72.4) Rail vehicles : overtaking on the right , whether moving or stationary (art. 16.9) Cycle zone : overtaking cyclists prohibited, 30 km/h maximum (art. 22novies)

And now?

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

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