Speed limitFlanders
Traffic rules
Flanders
7. Speed limit
A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.
A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.
Wikimedia.org • Jeanhousen • CC BY-SA
How is a speed limit indicated in Belgium?
A local maximum speed is normally indicated by traffic sign C43, a circular sign displaying the permitted speed. It is prohibited to drive faster than the number shown. The end of a speed restriction imposed by sign C43 may be indicated by traffic sign C45.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
🔗 securotheque.wallonie.be • SPW Sécurothèque — C43 and zonal validity
Start of a speed limit.
English • Traffic sign C43 • Travelling faster than the indicated speed is prohibited from the sign up to and including the next junction, or until any C43 sign, with or without zonal validity, or a sign marking the beginning or end of a built-up area, residential area (zone résidentielle or zone de rencontre), or pedestrian zone.
Français • Signal routier C43 • A partir du signal jusqu'au prochain carrefour inclus, ou jusqu’à chaque signal C43 avec ou sans validité zonale, ou jusqu’au signal indiquant le début ou la fin d’une agglomération, d’une zone résidentielle, d’une zone de rencontre ou d’une zone piétonne, interdiction de circuler à une vitesse supérieure à celle qui est indiquée.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord C43 • Vanaf het verkeersbord tot en met het volgend kruispunt, of tot elk verkeersbord C43 met of zonder zonale geldigheid, of tot het verkeersbord dat het begin of het einde van een bebouwde kom, van een woonerf of erf, of van een voetgangerszone aanduidt, verbod te rijden met een grotere snelheid dan deze die is aangeduid.
End of the speed limit.
English • Traffic sign C45 • End of the speed limit imposed by sign C43.
Français • Signal routier C45 • Fin de la limitation de vitesse imposée par le signal C43.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord C45 • Einde van de snelheidsbeperking opgelegd door het verkeersbord C43.
What are the general Belgian speed limits?
Built-up areas: The general limit is 30 km/h in the Brussels-Capital Region and 50 km/h in the Flemish and Walloon Regions. Traffic signs or special road rules may impose or permit another speed.
Flanders, outside built-up areas: For cars and other vehicles with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, the general limit on ordinary roads is 70 km/h. A C43 sign may impose or permit another limit. Physically divided roads with at least two lanes in each direction may allow up to 120 km/h.
Wallonia, outside built-up areas: For cars and other vehicles with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, the general limit on ordinary roads is 90 km/h. The limit is 70 km/h on a middle carriageway. Traffic signs and vehicle-specific rules may impose a lower limit.
Brussels, outside built-up areas: On ordinary roads outside built-up areas, the general maximum speed is 70 km/h. Physically divided roads with at least two lanes in each direction may legally allow up to 120 km/h, although lower signed limits are widely used.
Motorways: The general maximum for vehicles and combinations with a maximum authorised mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes is 120 km/h. Lower signed, variable or vehicle-specific limits take precedence.
Vehicle-specific limits: Yes. Vehicle-specific limits apply to buses, coaches, heavy vehicles and certain other vehicles. For example, vehicles and combinations exceeding 3.5 tonnes and buses are generally limited to 90 km/h on motorways.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
🔗 securotheque.wallonie.be • SPW Sécurothèque — C43 and zonal validity
Start of a speed limit.
English • Traffic sign C43 • Travelling faster than the indicated speed is prohibited from the sign up to and including the next junction, or until any C43 sign, with or without zonal validity, or a sign marking the beginning or end of a built-up area, residential area (zone résidentielle or zone de rencontre), or pedestrian zone.
Français • Signal routier C43 • A partir du signal jusqu'au prochain carrefour inclus, ou jusqu’à chaque signal C43 avec ou sans validité zonale, ou jusqu’au signal indiquant le début ou la fin d’une agglomération, d’une zone résidentielle, d’une zone de rencontre ou d’une zone piétonne, interdiction de circuler à une vitesse supérieure à celle qui est indiquée.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord C43 • Vanaf het verkeersbord tot en met het volgend kruispunt, of tot elk verkeersbord C43 met of zonder zonale geldigheid, of tot het verkeersbord dat het begin of het einde van een bebouwde kom, van een woonerf of erf, of van een voetgangerszone aanduidt, verbod te rijden met een grotere snelheid dan deze die is aangeduid.
Which limit applies when several speed rules apply?
First identify the speed limit legally applicable to the road and vehicle. A C43 sign may permit a higher speed than the ordinary regional default: for example, 90 km/h on a Flemish rural road that would otherwise have a 70 km/h limit. However, any lower vehicle-specific limit or other applicable special restriction must still be respected.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
🔗 securotheque.wallonie.be • SPW Sécurothèque — C43 and zonal validity
Start of a speed limit.
English • Traffic sign C43 • Travelling faster than the indicated speed is prohibited from the sign up to and including the next junction, or until any C43 sign, with or without zonal validity, or a sign marking the beginning or end of a built-up area, residential area (zone résidentielle or zone de rencontre), or pedestrian zone.
Français • Signal routier C43 • A partir du signal jusqu'au prochain carrefour inclus, ou jusqu’à chaque signal C43 avec ou sans validité zonale, ou jusqu’au signal indiquant le début ou la fin d’une agglomération, d’une zone résidentielle, d’une zone de rencontre ou d’une zone piétonne, interdiction de circuler à une vitesse supérieure à celle qui est indiquée.
Nederlands • Verkeersbord C43 • Vanaf het verkeersbord tot en met het volgend kruispunt, of tot elk verkeersbord C43 met of zonder zonale geldigheid, of tot het verkeersbord dat het begin of het einde van een bebouwde kom, van een woonerf of erf, of van een voetgangerszone aanduidt, verbod te rijden met een grotere snelheid dan deze die is aangeduid.
When does a speed limit imposed by an ordinary sign end in Belgium?
An ordinary speed-limit sign applies through the next intersection, unless it ends earlier at another speed-limit sign, a zonal speed sign, a sign marking the beginning or end of a built-up area, residential area or pedestrian zone, or an end-of-speed-limit sign.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
🔗 securotheque.wallonie.be • SPW Sécurothèque — C43 and zonal validity
Does an intersection end a Belgian speed zone?
No. A zonal speed limit continues across intersections until the corresponding end-of-zone sign is passed.
🔗 codex.vlaanderen.be • Belgian Road Code — articles 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 wegcode.be • Belgian Road Code of 1 December 1975 — 10, 11, 22bis, 65.5 and 68.3 (C43/C45)
🔗 be.brussels • Brussels Mobility — City 30 and residential-area speeds
🔗 securotheque.wallonie.be • SPW Sécurothèque — C43 and zonal validity
