Pre-sorting and indicating when turning

If you want to turn right or left at an intersection, you must indicate this in advance. Always use the indicators and pre-sort correctly before turning so that other road users are aware of your intentions.

Anticipation

Keeping in mind the possibility of an unexpected situation that may demand a quick reaction, and taking precautions to that end. For example, releasing the accelerator after observing a driver ahead braking. This is known as anticipating the situation in front of you.

Indicating

Always indicate on time. This depends on the speed you are driving and the current situation around you. The following guidelines recommend how far in advance of turning you should indicate:

• within built-up areas: 100 metres before turning;
• outside built-up areas: 200 metres before turning;
• on motorways: 300 metres before the exit.

In a passenger car, use the indicator or turn signal to advise other road users of your intended direction. Some vehicles, such as bicycles, some mopeds, and some snorfietsen, do not have indicators. Those cyclists, moped riders, and snorfietsers must therefore indicate with an arm.

Roundabout

Roundabout Indicating on a roundabout is only mandatory when leaving the roundabout, so when you are turning right. But it is strongly advised to indicate earlier in some cases:

• Turning right (leave at the first exit)
  Indicate to the right well before entering the roundabout.
• Going straight (leave at the second exit)
  Indicate to the right as soon as you drive past the first exit.
• Going left (leave at the third exit)
  Indicate to the left before entering the roundabout. Indicate to the right as soon as you drive past the second exit.

Weaving lanes and acceleration lanes

While driving on a motorway, you normally should indicate just before changing lanes. For instance, just before you enter the main carriageway, coming from the acceleration lane. But if you drive on a weaving lane and you are not planning on leaving that lane, you should indicate to the right just before the weaving lane and the main carriageway come together. In that way the drivers on the main carriageway know that you do not want to enter that carriageway.

Pre-sorting

Before making a turn, pre-sort if possible:

• Turning right
  Before making a right turn, drive on the right as much as possible in advance, using cycle lanes with broken lines if necessary. Hindering cyclists, snorfietsers, or disability vehicle drivers using the cycle lane is prohibited. Using cycle lanes with solid lines is also prohibited.

• Turning left
  Before making a left turn, drive against the road axis as much as possible in advance. Try not to come to a stop with the vehicle’s wheels turned to the left at the road axis. In the event of a rear collision, your vehicle will be pushed to the other side of the road. On full one-way streets, pre-sort on the left. On one-way streets with exceptions for some road users, pre-sort against the road axis to leave room for those road users.

• Turning at an intersection with multiple lanes in the same direction
  Choose the correct lane in time. This is normally the right-hand lane of that direction, unless it is more convenient to choose the left-hand lane for the flow or the situation after the intersection.