Traffic lightsBelgium
Traffic rules
Belgium
43. Traffic lights
Traffic lights use coloured lights, arrows or symbols to regulate when road users may proceed, must prepare to stop or must remain stopped. Separate signals may apply to particular directions, lanes, pedestrians, cyclists or public-transport vehicles.
A green light permits movement only when the route is clear and the movement is otherwise legal. Road users must still follow priority rules, turning restrictions, lane markings and instructions from authorised traffic controllers.
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Which Belgian sign warns that traffic lights are ahead?
Traffic sign A33 warns drivers that they are approaching traffic lights.
Warning for traffic lights ahead.
Signal routier A33 • Signaux lumineux de circulation.
Verkeersbord A33 • Verkeerslichten.
What does a red traffic light mean in Belgium?
A red light means that it is prohibited to pass the stop line or, where there is no stop line, the traffic light itself.
What does a steady orange-yellow light mean?
You must stop before the stop line or signal unless, when the light appears, you are already so close that you can no longer stop safely.
May you accelerate through an orange-yellow light?
No. You may continue only when stopping safely is no longer possible. When continuing through an intersection, you may not endanger other road users.
What does a green traffic light mean?
A green light means that you may pass the traffic light. You may proceed only when your movement remains legal and the route can be entered safely.
Does green give you absolute priority?
No. You must still give way when turning across pedestrians, cyclists or oncoming traffic where the applicable rules require it.
May you enter a blocked intersection on green?
No. You may not enter when congestion is likely to force you to stop inside the intersection and obstruct or prevent crossing traffic.
Where must you stop?
Stop before the white continuous stop line. When no stop line is present, stop before the traffic light itself.
What if a bicycle waiting area is provided?
Motor vehicles must stop before the first stop line. The space between the two stop lines is reserved for cyclists where the road markings establish a bicycle waiting area.
May you stop on a pedestrian crossing?
No. Do not pass the applicable stop line or enter the crossing when the light requires you to stop.
What do Belgian arrow-shaped traffic lights mean?
Red, orange-yellow and green arrows have the same meanings as circular lights, but only for the direction or directions indicated.
What does an additional green arrow displayed with red or orange-yellow mean?
You may proceed only in the direction shown, provided you give way to drivers lawfully approaching from other directions and to pedestrians.
May ordinary drivers turn right on red in Belgium?
No. Belgium has no general right-on-red rule for motor vehicles. The movement requires a specific applicable arrow or another lawful instruction.
What does an orange-yellow flashing light mean?
You may pass with extra caution. The flashing light does not change the existing priority arrangement.
Which priority rule applies when the normal lights flash orange-yellow?
Follow the priority signs at the intersection or, where no sign establishes priority, the ordinary Belgian priority rules.
Do priority signs apply while normal traffic lights are working?
No. Priority signs placed on the same road at that location do not apply while the normal traffic lights are operating.
Which exceptions remain applicable with traffic lights?
The rule suspending priority signs does not apply to an orange-yellow flashing light, lane-control lights or signs B22 and B23.
What does Belgian sign B22 permit?
B22 permits cyclists and speed-pedelec riders to pass a red or orange-yellow light to turn right, provided they give way to every other road user.
What does Belgian sign B23 permit?
B23 permits cyclists and speed-pedelec riders to pass a red or orange-yellow light to continue straight ahead, provided they give way to other road users. It may be used only where they do not cross another traffic stream.
Do B22 and B23 permit cars to pass red?
No. They apply only to cyclists and speed-pedelec riders.
What does a flashing bicycle arrow beside a red or orange-yellow light mean?
Cyclists and riders of two-wheeled mopeds may proceed in the direction indicated by the flashing arrow, but must give way to pedestrians and to drivers lawfully approaching from other directions.
Who must follow bicycle-symbol traffic lights?
They apply to cyclists and riders of two-wheeled mopeds covered by that signal. These users must follow their dedicated signal rather than the general circular light.
What do combined pedestrian-and-bicycle lights mean?
They apply only to pedestrians, cyclists and riders of two-wheeled mopeds who are legally permitted to use the relevant crossing or bike path.
What does a red pedestrian light mean?
Pedestrians may not begin crossing the carriageway.
What does a green pedestrian light mean?
Pedestrians may begin crossing. A flashing green figure may warn that this permission is about to end.
What if there are no pedestrian lights?
Pedestrians must follow the traffic lights controlling vehicle traffic or the instructions of an authorised person.
What does a red cross above a Belgian lane mean?
The lane or indicated part of the road is closed to traffic, subject only to specific statutory exceptions.
What does a green downward arrow above a lane mean?
Traffic is permitted to use that lane or indicated part of the road.
What does a diagonal orange lane arrow mean?
The lane is prohibited except for leaving it in the direction indicated by the arrow. Move into the adjacent lane safely.
Which signals apply to buses and trams?
Scheduled public-transport vehicles may be controlled by white bars, circles and triangles on a black background. A horizontal bar means stop, a circle corresponds to orange-yellow and an inverted triangle corresponds to green.
What does a vertical white bar mean?
It permits an authorised public-transport vehicle to proceed straight ahead only.
What does a slanted white bar mean?
It permits the authorised public-transport vehicle to proceed only in the direction indicated by the bar.
What is the green clearance arrow for left-turning traffic?
A separate left-pointing green arrow at the exit of an intersection indicates that opposing traffic is held by red so left-turning drivers can clear the intersection.
May you leave an intersection after your light changes?
Yes. A driver who entered the intersection lawfully may clear it without waiting for the signal in the intended direction to become green, unless another red light on the right prohibits the movement.
What if a police officer gives a different instruction?
Follow the officer’s instruction immediately. Orders from authorised persons take precedence over traffic lights, signs, road markings and ordinary rules.
May an emergency vehicle pass a red light?
A priority vehicle using its special audible warning device may pass red at a moderate speed when doing so creates no danger for other road users.
What should ordinary drivers do for an approaching emergency vehicle at red?
Create passage where possible without entering the intersection illegally or creating another danger. Follow instructions from police or other authorised persons.
What changes on 1 June 2027?
The new Belgian Code of the Public Road retains the basic meanings of red, steady orange-yellow and green. Arrow-shaped signals will expressly take precedence over circular signals for drivers travelling in the indicated direction.
What happens to B22 and B23 under the new code?
The new code uses a single sign numbered B22, on which one or more arrows indicate the directions in which cyclists and speed-pedelec riders may pass a prohibiting light after giving way.
What changes for the left-turn clearance arrow?
The new code adds an orange-yellow flashing left arrow indicating that opposing traffic is not held by red, while the green left arrow indicates that opposing traffic is stopped.
Will combined pedestrian-and-cycle lights change?
The new code expressly allows a combined signal with red, orange-yellow and green phases, although a two-colour red-and-green version may also be used.
Will warning sign A33 remain?
Yes. A33 remains the warning sign for traffic lights under the Code of the Public Road.
