Special manoeuvres and signalling
| What the rule is | Where it goes wrong | What you do | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who gives way to other traffic | Art. 54: whoever performs a special manoeuvre gives way to the rest of the traffic. Always the one manoeuvring, never the other way round. | Expecting others to let you in because you signalled. An indicator compels nothing: it announces an intention, the duty stays with you. | Assume “I wait for everyone” instead of looking for who comes from the right. |
| Which manoeuvres these are | Eight named: pulling away, reversing, entering the road from a drive, entering a drive, turning round, joining the through carriageway from an acceleration lane, entering the exit lane, changing lanes. | Taking the list as exhaustive. The law says “such as”: it gives examples, not the whole set. What is not listed may still count. | When in doubt test your own action against the list — it starts with “such as” and is therefore not closed. |
| When you must signal | Art. 55: when pulling away, overtaking a motor vehicle, joining and leaving the through carriageway, changing lanes — and for all other significant lateral movements. Moped riders may also use an arm signal. | Signalling only when turning. The text does not even name turning separately — it names lateral movement, which is much broader. | Signal before the movement, including when moving off from the kerb. |
| Getting into lane | Art. 17(1): a driver intending to turn MAY get into lane — to the right by moving over as far right as possible in good time. It is a right, not a duty. | Confusing getting into lane with priority. It changes your position, not your rights: for the turn itself art. 18 applies. | Get into position in good time so others see your intention before you steer. |
| Turning | Art. 18(1): a driver turning gives way to oncoming traffic on the same road, and to whoever is beside or close behind them — on either side. | Watching only the oncoming traffic. The text also names whoever rides beside or close behind you — the cyclist on your right as you turn right. | Look sideways before turning in — that is exactly where those protected by art. 18 are. |
The law itself
RVV1990 art. 54RVV1990 art. 55RVV1990 art. 17 lid 1RVV1990 art. 18 lid 1
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