Traffic rules

Hold a European or international driving licence (in Belgium: a category C licence to for the transportation of goods – lorries – and a category D for the transportation of people – buses, coaches).

Note that you must be at least 21 years of age to drive a heavy goods vehicle in Belgium.

It is compulsory to wear a seat belt

Vehicles subject to per-kilometre charges, i.e. motor vehicles and all articulated vehicles which are intended for the transport of goods on roads, and those that are used for this purpose, and which have a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of over 3.5 tonnes are subject to the per-kilometre charge. In order to use the Belgian road network, all these heavy goods vehicles must be equipped with an OBU (On Board Unit), a recording system that calculates the toll charge owed via a satellite signal.

All vehicles must have the following :

• Insurance card
• Registration certificate
• Indication of country of origin at the rear of the vehicle (unless this is incorporated in the registration plate)
• Valid roadworthiness certificate (for vehicles registered in Belgium)
• Certificate authorising the use of a third-party vehicle
• Retro-reflecting safety jacket which must be worn in the event of a breakdown or accident
• Warning triangle
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher (the number and model vary according to the vehicle category and the goods transported)

You can consult the full highway code via this link

In Belgium, you must drive on the right hand side of the road.

The minimum safe distance between two heavy goods vehicles of over 7.5 tonnes or with a length exceeding 7 metres is at least 15 metres on bridges and at least 50 metres outside built-up areas.

Priority must be given to all vehicles coming from the right unless there are signs indicating otherwise (stop and give way signs, or the presence of vehicles on rails).

Vehicles already on roundabouts have priority.

In Belgium, you must not use your indicator when you enter a roundabout. However, you must use your indicator to change lanes on the roundabout and to indicate you are leaving the roundabout.

When there is a queue due to a narrowing of the road, the zip merging system must be applied. This merging is carried out as follows :

• Drive in the traffic lanes available as far as the narrowing of the road.
• At this point, drivers in the lane that is open must allow one vehicle from the lane that is to close to pass in front of them.

You must observe the lane allocation signs when they are lit up.

When there is a red cross indicating that the lane is closed to traffic, it is extremely dangerous to drive in this lane. Car drivers may not actually see the danger. This lane closure allows emergency services and breakdown services to intervene more effectively and faster. By obeying lane allocation signs you ensure the safety of users and reduce the impact of an incident on your journey.

On motorways and public roads divided into four traffic lanes or more, of which at least two are allocated to each traffic direction (provided that the traffic directions are separated by something other than road markings) the speed limit is :

• 90 kph for vehicles with a GVW of over 3.5 tonnes and buses
• 100 kph for coaches in which all the seats are fitted with seat belts

Outside built-up areas, the speed limit is :

• 75 kph for buses and coaches
• 60 kph for other vehicles and sets of vehicles with solid tyres and a GVW of over 7.5 tonnes

Vehicles with a GVW of over 3.5 tonnes can only drive in the two right-hand traffic lanes of motorways divided into three or more traffic lanes.

Since 1^st January 2019, lorries are allowed to overtake on motorways with two traffic lanes, except on the following sections :

At any time :

• A503
• A602 and E25/A26: between Liège and Beaufays
• B501
• E25/A25: between the Cheratte interchange and the end of the motorway (Quai de la Dérivation)
• E42/A27: between the Battice interchange and the “Ensival/Verviers” interchange 6
• E313/A13: between the Vottem interchange and the end of the motorway
• E420/A54
• R9

From 6:00 to 19:00 :

• A604
• E25-E411/A4 between “Arlon” interchange 31 and the border with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
• E42/A15 between the interchange with the A501 and the E19/A7
• E429/A8 between “Quenast” interchange 24 and the Flemish Region
• R0 between the Haut-Ittre interchange and the Flemish Region
• R3

Maximum blood alcohol level: 0.02 gr per litre of blood.

It is forbidden to use a telephone by holding it in your hand while driving. Even if you are stationary in a traffic jam or at a red traffic light you must not use a telephone.

Special rules apply for the transport of dangerous goods.

All information on exceptional haulage can be found via this link.

You must overtake other vehicles via the left lane. If you are not overtaking successive vehicle, you must return to the right-hand traffic lane.

=> Therefore, you must not remain in the central lane or left-hand lane of the motorway if the right-hand lane is free.

On motorways, you are only allowed to stop and park in specific places (motorway service areas, carpooling car parks, etc.).

=> Therefore, it is forbidden to park or stop on the road, on the emergency lane or on the refuge areas. The emergency lane and refuge areas are reserved for situations of distress (breakdowns, malaises, accidents, etc.).

When you are entering the motorway via the access lane, you must give way to drivers already on the motorway. Entering the motorway must be carried out as smoothly as possible.

It is forbidden to turn around or reverse.

If there is a traffic jam, it is forbidden to get out of your vehicle.

The following are forbidden from using motorways :

• pedestrians, cyclists, moped users, animals
• drivers of vehicles and sets of vehicles that cannot reach the minimum speed of 70 kph
• drivers of vehicles that are towing another vehicle via a makeshift attachment
• drivers of quads without cabins
• drivers of agricultural vehicles

In rainy, snowy, icy and foggy conditions, visibility is reduced and roads are more slippery. Therefore, you must :

• Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you
• Refrain from braking abruptly
• Reduce your speed
• Turn on your headlights

The following are prohibited from overtaking :

• Vehicles with a GVW of over 3.5 tonnes: in addition to built-up areas, on public roads with two traffic lanes in the direction followed.
• Vehicles with a GVW of over 7.5 tonnes: on any type of road

Special precautions in snowy and icy conditions :

• Winter tyres are not mandatory but highly recommended from November to April.
• In winter, there are many slow vehicles clearing the roads and spreaders. You must adapt your driving when approaching one of these vehicles, i.e. slow down and avoid overtaking

Anticipate the works area by slowing down and complying with successive speed limits: this helps prevent queues from forming and accidents

If a queue forms in a works area, try to keep a constant speed (accelerate and decelerate gradually).

Do not change lanes in traffic jams so as to ensure traffic is as smooth as possible.

Turn on your dipped-beam headlamps.

Adapt your speed to the maximum speed limit.

Leave on the radio so you can receive any emergency messages.

Call 112.

Use your vehicle’s emergency button.

• Park your vehicle in a safe place (emergency lane or refuge area)
• Turn on your hazard warning lights
• Each occupant must put on a retro-reflecting safety jacket if there are enough of them.
• Place the warning triangle at least 100 metres away on motorways and at least 30 metres away (if possible) on other roads
• Move all the vehicle’s occupants away from the traffic and/or place them behind the safety barrier if there is one

Comply with the instructions given in the emergency messages on your radio.

If your vehicle shows signs of weakness :

• Turn on your hazard warning lights
• If possible, leave the tunnel with your vehicle, ensuring you do not put other users at risk
• If it is not possible to leave the tunnel, go to the nearest emergency area or park as close as possible to the right side of the road
  • Put on a retro-reflecting safety jacket
  • Place the warning triangle at least 100 metres away on motorways and at least 30 metres away (if possible) on other roads
  • Raise the alert by using one of the emergency telephones available, calling 112 or the traffic management centre whose number is indicated in the tunnel
  • Move all the vehicle’s occupants away from the traffic and/or place them behind the safety barrier if there is one.

If your vehicle stops abruptly :

• Turn on your hazard warning lights
• Place the warning triangle at least 100 metres away on motorways and at least 30 metres away (if possible) on other roads
• Leave your vehicle and, together with the other passengers, go to a safe place
• Raise the alert by using the emergency telephone available

If smoke is coming out of your car :

• Turn off the engine, leave the key in the ignition and leave your vehicle with all the passengers. Leave the tunnel as fast as possible, taking the emergency exits, to avoid asphyxia.
• Alert the emergency services and wait for them to arrive outside the tunnel.
• Do not return to your vehicle until the police authorise you to do so

If your vehicle catches fire :

• If possible, leave the tunnel with your vehicle, ensuring you do not put other users at risk
• If it is not possible to leave the tunnel, go to the nearest emergency area or park as close as possible to the right side of the road
• Raise the alert by using the emergency telephone available
• If the fire is quite small, try to put it out with the fire extinguishers available

If another vehicle is on fire or if there is smoke when you enter a tunnel :

• Turn off the engine, leave the key in the ignition and leave your vehicle with all the passengers. Leave the tunnel as fast as possible, taking the emergency exits, to avoid asphyxia.
• Alert the emergency services (112) and wait for them to arrive outside the tunnel.
• Do not return to your vehicle until the police authorise you to do so