Step 2 of 35Lanes and lines
Chapter 1 · 15 rules

Lanes and lines

Choose the right lane, read the white and orange lines, and handle merging, bus lanes and road works.

1. Lanes and position2. Lines and overtaking3. When a lane ends4. Bus lanes5. Road works

Section 1Lanes and position

1

Lanes

Official source · art. 2.2 · last amended 2024-02-01"Rijstrook", elk deel van een rijbaan die in haar langsrichting verdeeld is door: a) één of meer witte doorlopende of onderbroken strepen.Open the full article on Justel
Broken white lines divide this carriageway into three lanes.

Broken white lines divide this carriageway into three lanes.

Painted lines split the carriageway into lanes. A solid or broken white line can divide the road into two, three or more lanes.
2

Arrows on the lanes

Official source · art. 77.1 · last amended 2022-10-01Op het kruispunt moeten de bestuurders bovendien de of een van de richtingen volgen die aangewezen zijn op de rijstrook waarin zij zich bevinden.Open the full article on Justel
The painted arrow on the road surface shows the direction you must follow at the junction, meaning drivers in this lane must turn left.

The painted arrow on the road surface shows the direction you must follow at the junction, meaning drivers in this lane must turn left.

Arrows painted near a junction show which way each lane must go. A blue sign beside the road can show the same.
Examplea lane with a left arrow is for turning left only.
Lane choice: two lanes
Lane choice: four lanes
3

Keep right

Official source · art. 9.3.1 · last amended 2004-04-30Elke bestuurder die de rijbaan volgt moet zo dicht mogelijk bij de rechterrand van die rijbaan blijvenOpen the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 9.4 · last amended 2022-10-01Binnen de bebouwde kommen mogen de bestuurders de rijstrook volgen die het best aan hun bestemming beantwoordt: 1° op de rijbanen met eenrichtingsverkeer in rijstroken verdeeld; 2° op de rijbanen met tweerichtingsverkeer in vier of meer rijstroken verdeeld, waarvan er ten minste twee bestemd zijn voor iedere rijrichting.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 9.2 · last amended 2022-10-01Wanneer de openbare weg twee of drie rijbanen omvat die duidelijk van elkaar gescheiden zijn, inzonderheid door een effen grond, een niet voor voertuigen toegankelijke ruimte, een verschil in niveau, mogen de bestuurders de ten opzichte van hun rijrichting links gelegen rijbaan niet volgen, …Open the full article on Justel
Drivers must stay as far to the right of the carriageway as possible. The white crossover SUV correctly follows the right side rather than driving in the middle.
Under normal circumstances, the bright red car must keep to the right lane. Driving or remaining in the left lane without a valid reason is an offence.
When a road has two clearly separated carriageways, drivers may not use the carriageway on the left in their direction of travel. The white panel van drives correctly on the right carriageway, while the dark blue sedan is not permitted there.

Drivers must stay as far to the right of the carriageway as possible. The white crossover SUV correctly follows the right side rather than driving in the middle.

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Drive as far right as possible, and with several lanes use the right lane. Driving in the middle or the left lane for no reason is an offence. Exception: inside a built-up area you may use the lane that best suits your destination, on a one-way road with lanes or on a road with four or more lanes. On a road with two separate carriageways, do not use the left one unless signs or police tell you to.

Section 2Lines and overtaking

4

Broken line

Official source · art. 72.3 · last amended 2023-04-01Een onderbroken streep betekent dat het iedere bestuurder verboden is deze te overschrijden, behalve om in te halen, om links af te slaan, om te keren of om van rijstrook te veranderen.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 72.1 · last amended 2023-04-01Deze wegmarkeringen zijn wit en kunnen bestaan uit : 1° een doorlopende streep; 2° een onderbroken streep; 3° een naast elkaar getrokken doorlopende en onderbroken streep.Open the full article on Justel
You may cross the broken white line to overtake. Here, the faster bright red car uses the left lane to pass the slower yellow car.

You may cross the broken white line to overtake. Here, the faster bright red car uses the left lane to pass the slower yellow car.

You may cross a broken white line to overtake, turn left, turn round or change lane, unless a sign forbids it and the move is otherwise allowed.
5

Solid line

Official source · art. 72.2 · last amended 2023-04-01Een doorlopende streep betekent dat het iedere bestuurder verboden is deze te overschrijden.Open the full article on Justel

A solid white line

You may never cross a solid white line: not to overtake, not to turn left, not to turn round. Never drive to the left of a solid line that separates the two directions.
6

Solid and broken line side by side

Official source · art. 72.4 · last amended 2023-04-01Wanneer een doorlopende en een onderbroken streep naast elkaar getrokken zijn, moet de bestuurder alleen rekening houden met de streep die zich aan zijn kant bevindt.Open the full article on Justel
The red car had the broken line on its side, so it could cross to overtake. To return to the right it may cross the solid line.

The red car had the broken line on its side, so it could cross to overtake. To return to the right it may cross the solid line.

Look at the line on your side. If the broken line is on your side, you may cross to overtake and cross the solid line to come back after passing.
7

Slanted white lines (gore)

Official source · art. 77.4 · last amended 1997-10-01De bestuurders mogen niet rijden, stilstaan of parkeren op deze markeringen.Open the full article on Justel
A dark blue estate car is on a traffic displacement area marked with slanted white lines. Driving, waiting, or parking on a gore is not allowed.

A dark blue estate car is on a traffic displacement area marked with slanted white lines. Driving, waiting, or parking on a gore is not allowed.

An area of solid slanted white lines: no driving, stopping or parking on it.

Section 3When a lane ends

8

Lane reduction signs

Official source · art. 71.2 · last amended 2022-10-0171.2. De voornaamste aanwijzingsborden worden hierna afgebeeld.Open the full article on Justel
The blue sign on the right indicates a lane reduction on the left. The road markings show this reduction as the bright red car drives in the right lane.

The blue sign on the right indicates a lane reduction on the left. The road markings show this reduction as the bright red car drives in the right lane.

Two blue signs warn that a lane is ending: one for a lane closing on the left, one on the right.
Left lane ends
Right lane ends
9

Zip merging: when

Official source · art. 12bisDe bestuurders die, bij sterk vertraagd verkeer, rijden op een rijstrook die ophoudt of waarop het verder rijden wordt verhinderd, mogen slechts vlak voor de versmalling invoegen in de aangrenzende vrije rijstrook.Open the full article on Justel
When a lane is closed and traffic is slow, cars merge like a zip, one from each side in turn: 1, 2, 3 and so on up to 6. The yellow arrows show the cars from the closed lane crossing into the gaps.

When a lane is closed and traffic is slow, cars merge like a zip, one from each side in turn: 1, 2, 3 and so on up to 6. The yellow arrows show the cars from the closed lane crossing into the gaps.

The zip merge rule applies in heavily slowed traffic when a lane ends or is blocked, for example by road works, an obstacle or an accident.
10

Zip merging: how

Official source · art. 12bisDe bestuurders die, bij sterk vertraagd verkeer, rijden op een rijstrook die ophoudt of waarop het verder rijden wordt verhinderd, mogen slechts vlak voor de versmalling invoegen in de aangrenzende vrije rijstrook.Open the full article on Justel

Zip merge

Keep using the closing lane and merge only right before the narrowing. Show your indicator in time. The drivers in the lane that stays open give way in turn to one merging driver at a time. If lanes close on both sides, take turns: right car, left car, then the open lane drives on.

Section 4Bus lanes

11

What a bus lane is

Official source · art. 72.5 · last amended 2023-04-0172.5. Busstrook. 1° Het verkeersbord F17 en één of twee brede witte onderbroken strepen of dambordmarkeringen bestaande uit witte vierkanten bakenen de busstrook af. De busstrook maakt geen deel uit van de rijbaan.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 72.6 · last amended 2023-04-0172.6. Bijzondere overrijdbare bedding. 1° Het verkeersbord F18 en één of twee brede witte doorlopende strepen of dambordmarkeringen bestaande uit witte vierkanten bakenen de bijzonder overrijdbare bedding af. De bijzonder overrijdbare bedding maakt geen deel uit van de rijbaan.Open the full article on Justel
Sign F17 and a wide broken line mark a bus lane on the right of three ordinary lanes. Regular traffic, like the white van in the right-hand ordinary lane, must stay out of the bus lane and may not drive or stop in it.

Sign F17 and a wide broken line mark a bus lane on the right of three ordinary lanes. Regular traffic, like the white van in the right-hand ordinary lane, must stay out of the bus lane and may not drive or stop in it.

A bus lane is not part of the carriageway (since April 2023). It is marked with wide white broken lines or a checkerboard and sign F17. A similar sign with a solid line means a special reserved route, which is not part of the carriageway either (see Lesson 7).
Bus lane on the right
Bus lane on the left
Solid line: special reserved route
12

Cars in a bus lane

Official source · art. 72.5 · last amended 2023-04-0172.5. Busstrook. 1° Het verkeersbord F17 en één of twee brede witte onderbroken strepen of dambordmarkeringen bestaande uit witte vierkanten bakenen de busstrook af. De busstrook maakt geen deel uit van de rijbaan.Open the full article on Justel

The bus lane

You may not drive, park or stop in it, not even to let someone in or out. You may cross it to reach a shop, petrol station or parking space. You may use it for the last metres before a junction to turn left or right, or to drive around an obstacle.
13

Other users of a bus lane

Official source · art. 72.5 · last amended 2023-04-0172.5. Busstrook. 1° Het verkeersbord F17 en één of twee brede witte onderbroken strepen of dambordmarkeringen bestaande uit witte vierkanten bakenen de busstrook af. De busstrook maakt geen deel uit van de rijbaan.Open the full article on JustelOfficial source · art. 85.33 · last amended 2026-07-1685.33. De voertuigen die gebruikt worden voor het schoolvervoer en de taxi’s mogen gebruik maken van de busstroken tot 31 mei 2027, ook in afwezigheid van het bord of van het woord bedoeld in artikel 72.5, a) en b).Open the full article on Justel
Plates under the bus-lane sign show who else may use the lane: 1 school transport, 2 taxis, 3 bicycles, 4 mopeds, 5 motorcycles, 6 buses and coaches, 7 commuter transport (home to work), 8 cars with at least 2 or 3 people, 9 vehicles promoting sustainable mobility, 10 vehicles transporting disabled people.
Regular vehicles, such as the teal car, may not drive, stop, or park on the bus lane on the right. Drivers may only enter it in the final metres before an intersection to sort for a turn.

Plates under the bus-lane sign show who else may use the lane: 1 school transport, 2 taxis, 3 bicycles, 4 mopeds, 5 motorcycles, 6 buses and coaches, 7 commuter transport (home to work), 8 cars with at least 2 or 3 people, 9 vehicles promoting sustainable mobility, 10 vehicles transporting disabled people.

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Other vehicles (bicycle, moped, motorbike...) may use it only if a plate under the sign shows them. Exception: taxis and school-transport vehicles may use every bus lane even without a plate, until 31 May 2027. Recently changed: since 16 July 2026 this exception lasts until 31 May 2027 instead of 1 January 2027 (royal decree of 30 June 2026, published in the Belgisch Staatsblad of 15 July 2026, art. 85.33 of the road code).
Bus lane open to cyclists
Bus lane open to mopeds
Bus lane open to motorcycles

Section 5Road works

14

Road works sign

Official source · art. 66.4 · last amended 2022-10-01De gevaarsborden worden hierna afgebeeld. [...] A25. Oversteekplaats voor fietsers en bestuurders van tweewielige bromfietsen of plaats waar die bestuurders van een fietspad op de rijbaan komen [...] A31. WerkenOpen the full article on Justel
A warning triangle for road works: slow down and expect changes ahead.
Road works (A31)
15

Orange lines

Official source · art. 73.4 · last amended 1997-10-01De voorlopige markeringen maken de andere witte overlangse markeringen die op dezelfde plaats zijn aangebracht waardeloos.Open the full article on Justel
Orange lines and white lines together: follow the orange ones.

Orange lines at road works

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Temporary orange lines mean the same as white lines, so a broken orange line may also be crossed. If you see both, follow only the orange ones, even if they send you onto the hard shoulder or across white lines. Temporary signs announce these changes: a diversion, a crossover, a lane closure or two-way traffic.
Temporary lane diversion ahead
Crossover to the other carriageway
Temporary lane closure ahead
Two-way traffic on one-way carriageway

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EasyWarm-up: the key facts of this lesson, one step at a time.25 questions
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