LaneBelgium
Traffic rules
Belgium
1. Lane
A lane is a longitudinal part of a roadway intended to accommodate a line of moving vehicles. A roadway may contain one or several lanes for traffic travelling in the same or opposite directions.
Lanes are commonly separated by continuous or broken road markings. Traffic signs, lane arrows and lane-control signals may indicate which vehicles may use a lane, which direction traffic must follow or whether a lane is open or closed.
What is legally considered a traffic lane in Belgium?
A Belgian traffic lane, or rijstrook, is a part of the roadway divided longitudinally by one or more prescribed continuous or broken road markings.
Is a traffic lane the same as the roadway?
No. The roadway is the complete part of the public road arranged for vehicle traffic in general. It may contain one or several traffic lanes.
How are Belgian lanes currently marked?
Ordinary traffic lanes are separated by white continuous or broken longitudinal lines. Temporary lane markings at roadworks may be orange.
Must Belgian drivers normally keep to the right-hand lane?
Yes. A driver following the roadway must normally remain as close as possible to its right-hand edge and return to the right when circumstances allow, subject to the specific exceptions provided by the Road Code.
How does zipper merging work when a Belgian lane ends?
During heavily slowed traffic, drivers in the lane that ends or becomes blocked must continue until just before the narrowing before merging. Drivers in the continuing lane must then alternately allow one merging driver to enter.
Can you cross motorway lanes in one sweep in Belgium?
Avoid sweeping across motorway lanes. As a safe procedure, move one lane at a time and check each lane before entering it. Every lane change is a manoeuvre: give way to other road users, signal in good time and cancel the signal once the lateral movement is complete. Follow lane markings and any mandatory directions.
Where may motorcycles filter on motorways in Belgium?
On motorways and expressways, motorcycles may filter only between the two leftmost lanes, past vehicles that are stopped or moving slowly. The motorcycle must not exceed 50 km/h, and its speed advantage over the queues must not exceed 20 km/h. These conditions do not give priority over emergency vehicles or remove crossing and safety duties.
