Right of way in the Netherlands: the priority rules
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At a junction without signs, shark's teeth or traffic lights, traffic from the right goes first, a cyclist too. A tram always goes first there. Signs and shark's teeth go above that rule, traffic lights go above the signs that regulate priority, and instructions from the police or a traffic controller go above everything. You always let a priority vehicle with blue lights and siren go first.
All topics
- Traffic from the right goes firstAt a junction without signs, shark's teeth or traffic lights, traffic from the right goes first, a cyclist too. The two exceptions and the mistake many people make.
- Shark's teeth and the stop signShark's teeth and sign B6 mean you give way to the traffic on the road you cross. At sign B7 you always stop first. How it works, with examples.
- The priority roadOn a priority road (sign B1) the side roads let you go first until the end-of-priority-road sign. What signs B1 to B5 mean and where you still need to be careful.
- Priority at a roundaboutAt most roundabouts the traffic on the roundabout goes first: at the entry there are shark's teeth and sign B6. Without them traffic from the right goes first.
- Priority when turningWhoever turns lets the traffic going straight on on the same road go first: the oncoming car and the cyclist beside you. How it works, also when you have a green light.
- Priority and the tramAt a junction without signs or traffic lights the tram always goes first, even from the left. Only shark's teeth or traffic lights for the tram change that.
- Priority vehiclesYou always let an ambulance, fire engine or police car with blue lights and siren go first, even if you have priority or a green light. What to do and when it is no priority vehicle.
- Pedestrians and zebra crossingsYou let pedestrians go first who cross on a zebra crossing or clearly want to. Blind people with a white cane and anyone who walks with difficulty too. How it works.
- Coming out of a driveway or a home zoneWhoever drives out of a driveway, garage or home zone lets all other traffic go first: cars, cyclists and pedestrians. Pulling away and turning round are special manoeuvres too.
- Traffic lights, police and traffic controllerA traffic controller's instructions go above traffic lights, and traffic lights go above the signs that regulate priority. What a flashing amber light means.
The order: what goes above what?
- Instructions from the police or a traffic controller (verkeersregelaar).
- Traffic lights. They go above the signs and shark's teeth that regulate priority.
- Traffic signs and shark's teeth. They go above the general traffic rules.
- The traffic rules: traffic from the right goes first, the tram goes first, whoever turns lets the traffic going straight on go first.
You always let a priority vehicle (voorrangsvoertuig) with blue lights and siren go first, whatever the signs or lights say.
Give way or let go first?
In the exam you see two expressions. At a junction you give way (voorrang verlenen). When you turn, come out of a driveway or have pedestrians at a zebra crossing, you let the other go first (voor laten gaan). In both cases it means the same for you: the other goes first.
Frequently asked questions
Does traffic from the right always have priority?
No. Only at a junction without signs, shark's teeth or traffic lights. And even there a tram always goes first, and traffic on a paved road goes before traffic from an unpaved road.
Does a cyclist from the right have priority?
Yes. At an uncontrolled junction the rule that traffic from the right goes first applies to all drivers and riders, cyclists and moped riders too.
Who goes first at a roundabout?
Usually the traffic on the roundabout: at the entry there are shark's teeth and sign B6. Without those, traffic from the right goes first.
Sources
- wetten.overheid.nl RVV 1990
- wetten.overheid.nl Wegenverkeerswet 1994
- cbr.nl theorie examenplan auto