Road works — what overrides what
| What the rule says | Where it goes wrong | What you do | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary markings on the road surface | Prevails over the other markings applied on the road surface there, in so far as they are incompatible. The old lines stay in place but no longer count. | Still following the solid line because art. 76(1) forbids crossing it. Where temporary marking says otherwise, it wins — that is exactly why art. 63a exists. | Follow the yellow or temporary lines and ignore the white ones where they contradict. |
| Sign versus general limit | Traffic signs rank above traffic rules: the sign sets the limit, even where it shows a higher speed than the road's general limit — that is how 70 roads inside the built-up area exist. Only the special limits (moped, trailer and the like) are never lifted by a sign: there the lower of the two applies. | Applying «of two speeds the lower applies» to the ordinary sign as well. That rule of art. 63b holds only for the special limits and the gantry; the general limit can be raised by a sign. | Follow the sign, above the general limit too; only your own special limit (moped, trailer) remains the ceiling. |
| Sign versus electronic gantry | Where two speeds appear — one on a sign, one on a gantry — the lower of the two applies. | Thinking the newest or the nearest wins. The law looks at neither order nor distance, only at the figure. | Here too keep the lowest figure — sign and gantry rank equally. |
| Instruction from an authorised person | Spoken instructions and gestures of authorised, recognisable officers and traffic controllers must be obeyed. The gestures themselves are in Annex II. | Taking anyone in a yellow vest for an authorised person. The law requires authorised AND recognisable as such; a road worker waving is not a traffic controller. | Follow the instruction as soon as the person is authorised AND recognisable as such. |
| Closed lane | Red cross: the lane may not be used. The hard shoulder may be used only in emergencies — a queue at road works is not an emergency. | Staying in the closed lane until the last moment. Driving under the cross is not “merging late”, it is using a lane that is prohibited. | Leave the closed lane in good time — do not drive on to the last moment. |
| Why the signing wins here | Art. 62 requires obeying signs carrying an order or a ban; art. 63 lets them prevail over the traffic rules in so far as those are incompatible. | Inverting the whole hierarchy: first checking what “normally” applies and treating the signs as an extra. At road works the signing is the norm and the ordinary rule the exception. | At road works read the signing first and only then think of the ordinary rule. |
The law itself
RVV1990 art. 63aRVV1990 art. 63b lid 1RVV1990 art. 63b lid 2RVV1990 art. 82 lid 1RVV1990 art. 82 lid 2RVV1990 art. 63RVV1990 art. 62RVV1990 art. 73
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