Zona escolarBruselas

A Belgian schoolomgeving is a zone consisting of one or more public roads or road sections that includes an entrance to a school and is marked by the legally prescribed entrance and exit signs.

It currently begins with traffic sign F4a combined with warning sign A23 and ends with traffic sign F4b.

Traffic sign A23 warns of a place where children are especially likely to be present.

No. A23 alone is a warning sign. A legally marked school environment currently uses A23 together with F4a and is ended by F4b.

The maximum speed between F4a and F4b is 30 km/h.

Yes. Every driver must respect the maximum speed, although a lower vehicle-specific or locally imposed limit may still apply.

No. Thirty kilometres per hour is the maximum. Drivers must slow down further when children, congestion, visibility, weather or other circumstances require it.

Yes. When the F4a school-area sign is permanently displayed, the 30 km/h limit applies at all times, including outside ordinary school hours.

Yes. Belgium permits F4a school-area signage with variable information. It may be activated during the periods when children arrive at or leave the school.

When the variable restriction is not displayed, the otherwise applicable road, regional, zonal or signed speed limit applies.

No. The school-area rules continue through intersections until the driver passes F4b.

It ends at traffic sign F4b. The speed limit applying to the surrounding road or zone then resumes.

The speed limit of the surrounding larger speed zone resumes after F4b without its original zone sign normally having to be repeated.

No. Both impose a maximum speed of 30 km/h, but a school environment specifically includes a school entrance and is identified by A23 together with F4a.

No. A school area is principally a signed 30 km/h environment. A schoolstraat temporarily restricts motor-vehicle access during specified periods.

A school street is currently indicated by traffic sign C3 with a supplementary panel displaying the word Schoolstraat.

The road is reserved for pedestrians, bicycles and speed pedelecs. Priority vehicles carrying out an appropriate assignment and vehicles holding a permit from the road authority may also enter.

Authorised drivers must travel at walking pace, leave pedestrians and cyclists free passage, give way to them and stop when necessary.

Yes. Belgian drivers must be especially cautious around children, reduce speed and stop when necessary.

No. The ordinary pedestrian, cyclist, crossing and priority rules remain applicable. Drivers still have a heightened duty of caution around children.

No. Drivers must continue to follow traffic lights, priority signs and the ordinary priority rules.

Yes. Road users must follow instructions given by an authorised supervisor protecting children, pupils, older people or persons with disabilities while crossing.

The authorised supervisor uses a hand-held disc displaying traffic sign C3. Road users must stop when directed.

No. Road users may not break through a group of children or pupils walking in rows with a leader or crossing under the control of a leader, youth traffic brigade or authorised supervisor.

Approach with extra caution. When the marked school-transport vehicle operates all its direction indicators to show that children are boarding or leaving, drivers must reduce speed considerably and stop when necessary.

No. A pedestrian crossing must be indicated separately by its road markings and, where used, its traffic signs or signals.

The school-area signs do not create a general parking prohibition. Drivers must follow all ordinary stopping and parking rules and any local signs or markings.

No. Stopping and parking are prohibited on a pedestrian crossing and on the carriageway within five metres before it.

No. Stopping or parking on a bike path or pavement is prohibited and can force children into moving traffic.

No general overtaking prohibition is created solely by the school-area signs. Drivers must still respect crossing-related prohibitions, road markings and the general requirement not to overtake dangerously.

Yes. Belgian placement rules state that, except in exceptional cases justified by local conditions, each school environment should be marked by A23 with F4a and by F4b at its exit.

Belgium’s new Code of the Public Road introduces traffic signs R1 and R3 for the beginning and end of a school environment. The current F4a, A23 and F4b signs remain legally recognised during the general transitional period, normally until 1 January 2045.