Pedestrians: the two priority regimes at the crossing

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The two pedestrian priority regimes in Belgium: on a marked crossing or off it, and what the driver is required to do.

Coverage, Absolute priority at pedestrian crossing

Lesson objectives

Understand the absolute priority of pedestrians at pedestrian crossings in Belgium Know the driver's obligations towards pedestrians (stopping, overtaking, distances) Identify situations where pedestrians do not have priority and adapt your driving

The pedestrian crossing: a protected zone

The pedestrian crossing is a protected zone, but the level of protection varies depending on how traffic is regulated, and this is precisely what the exam tests. No officer or traffic lights (art. 40.4.2): you can only approach the crossing at moderate speed , and you must give way to pedestrians who are already crossing or about to cross . It is here, and only here, that a pedestrian waiting at the kerb obtains priority. With officer or traffic lights (art. 40.4.1): even if traffic is open in your direction, you must allow pedestrians lawfully crossing to complete their crossing at normal speed. And when traffic is closed in your direction, you must in any case stop before the crossing.

A21

A21, Pedestrian crossing. A pedestrian crossing is ahead. Slow down and be ready to stop to let people cross.

F49

Sign F49 indicates a pedestrian crossing. It marks the exact location where pedestrians can cross the road. Pedestrians crossing or clearly intending to cross have priority. You must slow down and stop if necessary.

Pedestrian crossing at a protected crossing

Driver's obligations at pedestrian crossing

Three concrete obligations follow from these rules. Slow down : approach at moderate speed where there is no officer or traffic lights. Give way : to the pedestrian crossing, and, without officer or traffic lights, to one about to cross. Do not enter the crossing if traffic congestion risks immobilizing you there (art. 40.5). Note that the question "do I have right of way?" never arises here: obligations towards pedestrians under article 40 are independent of priority rules between drivers.

Anticipate! Ease off well before the pedestrian crossing. This gives you time to brake safely and shows the pedestrian that you have seen them.

Strict prohibitions: stopping and parking

You cannot stop or park :

On the pedestrian crossing itself On the road up to 5 m before the pedestrian crossing Beyond the crossing, you may stop (unless a sign prohibits it)

Parking less than 5 m before a pedestrian crossing reduces visibility for pedestrians and drivers. This is a serious infraction in the exam.

Prohibition of overtaking at pedestrian crossing

Article 17.2, 5° prohibits overtaking on the left a driver who is approaching or stopping before a pedestrian crossing or cycle crossing, but only at places where traffic is not regulated by a qualified officer or traffic lights . Two clarifications the exam likes: the prohibition concerns overtaking on the left , and it concerns, like all of article 17.2, only articulated vehicles, two-wheeled motor vehicles and vehicles with more than two wheels.

Driver overtaking a vehicle at pedestrian crossing

Pedestrian priority when changing direction

Turning is not a manoeuvre under article 12.4, change of direction has its own regime under article 19 , and its obligations are broader: art. 19.4 , give way to drivers and pedestrians travelling on other parts of the same public road : pavement, cycle path, service road; art. 19.5 , give way to pedestrians crossing the road onto which you are about to turn , whether a crossing is marked or not. The movement must also be executed at moderate speed (art. 19.2, 3° and 19.3, 4°).

Before turning, look carefully ahead and to the sides. Pedestrians can arrive quickly. Slow down and be ready to stop.

Pedestrian priority outside pedestrian crossing

Outside a crossing, the pedestrian does not have priority, but the code does not say they "must give way". Their rule is that of article 42.4.4 : they can only enter the road with caution and taking into account approaching vehicles . They must cross perpendicular to the road axis (art. 42.4.1) and use the crossing if one exists within approximately 20 metres . On your part, three obligations remain in any case: do not endanger more vulnerable road users (art. 7.1), exercise extra caution in the presence of children, elderly or disabled persons (art. 40.2), and respect the lateral distance of article 40.7.

Lateral distances towards pedestrians

Article 40.7 imposes a lateral distance of at least 1 metre between your vehicle and the pedestrian circulating on the roadway under the conditions of the regulation, and at least 1.50 m outside built-up areas . If this distance cannot be maintained, you may only proceed at walking pace and, if necessary, you must stop. Article 40.6 adds: when passing near an obstacle that pedestrians must go around on the roadway, leave a free space of at least 1 metre along this obstacle; failing that, and if a pedestrian is at the level of the obstacle, you may only pass it at walking pace .

Special case: Zone 30 and meeting zones

Zone 30 : ordinary rules apply, speed is the only special rule of the zone (art. 22quater). Pedestrians must use the pedestrian crossing when one exists within approximately 20 metres (art. 42.4.1); elsewhere, they only proceed with caution, taking into account approaching vehicles. Residential zone and meeting zone (art. 22bis): speed is limited to 20 km/h , pedestrians may use the entire width of the public road and games are permitted . Drivers must neither endanger nor obstruct them: if necessary, they must stop . For their part, pedestrians must not obstruct traffic without necessity.

F4a

Sign F4a: beginning of a zone limited to 30 kilometres per hour. From this point onwards, the maximum speed is 30 kilometres per hour throughout the zone. This sign is placed near schools, in residential areas or town centres to ensure the safety of pedestrians and children.

F12a

F12a, Beginning of a residential zone or a meeting zone . Speed is limited to 20 km/h , and not to walking pace, which is the regime for school streets and pedestrian zones. Pedestrians may use the entire width of the public road and games are permitted; the driver must neither endanger nor obstruct them and must stop if necessary (art. 22bis).

Exercise extra caution: children, elderly persons, disabled persons

Article 40.2 requires extra caution in the presence of children, elderly persons or disabled persons, the text specifically mentions blind persons carrying a white or yellow cane and disabled persons driving a small vehicle not exceeding walking pace. You must slow down and, if necessary, stop . Article 40bis goes further for groups: it is forbidden to cut through a group of children, schoolchildren, disabled or elderly persons, whether they are circulating in ranks under the guidance of a guide or crossing under the guidance of a school patrol, a guide or an authorised supervisor . Users must obey the instructions of authorised supervisors , who stop traffic using a disc reproducing signal C3 .

A23

Warning, you are approaching a place specially frequented by children. It may be a school, a play area or a daycare centre. The presence of children is frequent there. Be particularly vigilant. A child may appear without warning. Ease off the accelerator and be ready to brake.

Priority of pedestrians over cyclists

At a pedestrian crossing, the pedestrian has priority over the cyclist . Cyclists are considered as drivers and must comply with the same priority rules as motor vehicles. A cyclist crossing a pedestrian crossing must yield to pedestrians.

A25

A25, Crossing for cyclists and two-wheeled moped riders, or outlet of a cycle path onto the roadway. Expect to see bicycles or mopeds crossing or entering the road. Slow down and be prepared to yield if necessary.

F50

Sign F50 signals a crossing for cyclists and two-wheeled moped riders. It marks the place where these users cross the roadway. Be attentive and yield to them if they are engaged.

Without agent or lights (art. 40.4.2): approach at moderate pace and priority to pedestrians engaged or about to engage Under agent or lights (art. 40.4.1): allow pedestrians regularly engaged to complete crossing; stop before the crossing if traffic is closed in your direction Do not proceed onto the crossing if congestion risks immobilising you there (art. 40.5) Stopping and parking prohibited on the crossing and 5 m before (art. 24, 4°) Overtaking : prohibited on the left behind a driver approaching or stopping at the crossing, where there is neither agent nor lights (art. 17.2, 5°) Change of direction : this is not a manoeuvre, yield to users of other parts of the same road (art. 19.4) and to pedestrians crossing the roadway being approached (art. 19.5) Outside crossing : the pedestrian only proceeds with caution, taking into account approaching vehicles (art. 42.4.4); they use the crossing located within approximately 20 m Lateral distances (art. 40.7): 1 m from the pedestrian in built-up areas, 1.50 m outside built-up areas; failing that, walking pace and stopping if necessary Supervised groups (art. 40bis): prohibition to cut through them; obey authorised supervisors carrying disc C3

And now?

First complete the quiz for this lesson to validate your learning, then practise on the exam simulator and the MCQs . Next lesson: 1.5 m minimum to overtake a cyclist .

BelgianLicenses

Theory without practice is forgotten: follow up with MCQs to durably anchor your knowledge.