Road narrowingFlanders
22. Road narrowing
A road narrowing is a section where the available width of the road or carriageway becomes smaller. The narrowing may occur on both sides, on one side only, or because one or more traffic lanes end.
Drivers should reduce speed, observe approaching and adjacent traffic, maintain sufficient lateral clearance and merge when necessary. Warning signs do not always determine priority, so drivers must follow any priority signs, lane markings and local traffic rules.
Wikimedia.org • Jeanhousen • CC BY-SA
Which Belgian signs warn of a road narrowing?
Belgian warning signs A7a, A7b and A7c indicate a narrowing of the carriageway.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 15, 66.4 (A7a/A7b/A7c) and 67.3 (B19/B21)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 15, 66.4 (A7a/A7b/A7c) and 67.3 (B19/B21)
Warning for a road narrowing.
English • Traffic sign A7a • Road narrows.
Français • Signal routier A7a • Rétrécissement de la chaussée.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A7a • Rijbaanversmalling.
Sources
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org
Vascer • Public domain. Original SVG unmodified.
🔗 Wegcode.be • Artikel 66. Gevaarsborden (NL)
🔗 Codedelaroute.be • Article 66. Signaux de danger (FR)
Warning for a road narrowing on the left.
English • Traffic sign A7b • Road narrows.
Français • Signal routier A7b • Rétrécissement de la chaussée.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A7b • Rijbaanversmalling.
Warning for a road narrowing on the right.
English • Traffic sign A7c • Road narrows.
Français • Signal routier A7c • Rétrécissement de la chaussée.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord A7c • Rijbaanversmalling.
Sources
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org
Vascer • Public domain. Original SVG unmodified.
🔗 Wegcode.be • Artikel 66. Gevaarsborden (NL)
🔗 Codedelaroute.be • Article 66. Signaux de danger (FR)
Does a Belgian road-narrowing warning sign determine priority?
No. Road-narrowing signs warn of the narrowing but do not indicate which direction has priority through the narrow section. Separate priority signs or the applicable traffic rules determine who must give way.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 15, 66.4 (A7a/A7b/A7c) and 67.3 (B19/B21)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 15, 66.4 (A7a/A7b/A7c) and 67.3 (B19/B21)
Does a Belgian road-narrowing warning sign impose a speed limit?
No. Drivers must respect the applicable speed limit and reduce their speed further when necessary for the width, visibility and traffic conditions.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 12.4, 12bis, 13, 15 and 66.4 (A7)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — articles 10, 12.4, 12bis, 13, 15 and 66.4 (A7)
Must you use an indicator to pass an obstruction?
Yes, when the movement requires a lateral displacement. Signal in time, check for following and approaching traffic and stop signalling when the movement is completed.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 12.4, 12bis, 13, 15 and 66.4 (A7)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — articles 10, 12.4, 12bis, 13, 15 and 66.4 (A7)
What if your traffic lane ends at the narrowing?
When traffic is flowing normally, changing into the adjacent lane is a manoeuvre and you must give way to its users. During strongly slowed traffic, the Belgian zipper-merging rule applies.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 12.4, 12bis, 13, 15 and 66.4 (A7)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — articles 10, 12.4, 12bis, 13, 15 and 66.4 (A7)

Traffic rules
Flanders