Driving behaviour at intersections

Various rules have been established for when you encounter other traffic at intersections. For this, you must understand the difference between road users (all traffic, including pedestrians) and drivers (all traffic, except pedestrians). In addition, it is important that you understand the difference between traffic on the intersecting road and traffic on the same road.

Intersection

Gathering of roads. At an intersection it is possible to change direction. This means that you can turn left or right.
Intersections can be designed in many different ways.

Intersecting road

This is a road that intersects the road you are on. It does not necessarily have to be on a 90-degree angle (perpendicular). It can also be a road that connects at an angle to the road you are on, such as at a Y-junction.

The same road

This is the road you are on. Traffic that is on the same road as you, approaches you from the back or front. It does not matter whether they are pedestrians on the pavement or in the verge, or drivers of vehicles on the carriageway. If you are driving on a roundabout, all traffic that follows this roundabout is traffic on the same road.

Giving way

Enabling the drivers concerned to continue driving unhindered. This means that the driver who has right of way, should also feel like they have the right of way. This driver should be able to continue driving unhindered.

Giving way

When the priority at an intersection is not regulated by signs, markings on the road or traffic lights, we speak of equivalent roads. On equivalent roads, drivers give way to drivers from the right.

So, you do not have to give way to pedestrians, because pedestrains are not drivers.

There are two exceptions to this rule!

• Drivers give way to drivers of trams.
• Drivers on an unpaved roads give way to drivers from the left and right on a paved road.

Priority triangles (shark’s teeth)

Priority triangles on the road surface. These are usually used with, but sometimes also without, sign B-6. In both cases, these triangles mean that you must give way to drivers on the intersecting road.

Priority reculated by signs or road markings

If priority at an intersection is regulated by signs or road markings, the rule that drivers from the right have priority no longer applies. There are various signs that regulate priority.

Receiving priority – priority road

Sign B-1 indicates that you are driving on a priority road. You must receive priority from drivers in the intersecting roads. Inside the built-up area this sign is repeated before every intersection. Outside the built-up area this sign is repeated after every intersection. This way, you can see whether you are driving within or outside the built-up area.

Sign B-2 indicates the end of a priority road. After this sign, normal priority rules apply again.

Receiving priority – priority intersection

Sign B-3 indicates a priority intersection where you must receive priority from intersecting driving. The thick arrow indicates the road you are on. The two horizontal lines indicate the side streets. These signs only apply to the intersection you are approaching.

Sign B-4 indicates a priority intersection with only one side street. This side street is to the left and drivers on this street must give way to you.

Sign B-5 indicates a priority intersection with only one side street. This side street is to the right and drivers on this street must give way to you.

Give way

Sign B-6 indicates that you are approaching a priority road or priority intersection from a side street. At this sign, stopping is not mandatory if you can see the intersection in time and can enter the intersection safely.

Sign B-7 also indicates that you are approaching a priority road or priority intersection from a side street. You must give way to all drivers on the intersecting road. At this sign, you must always stop first, even if you can see that no other traffic is approaching. These signs are often placed in locations where visibility is poor or where accidents frequently occur because drivers do not look properly.

The difference between the last two signs is that you must always stop at the ‘STOP’-sign, even if you have seen that no drivers are approaching on the intersecting road.
In addition, sign B-6 is always combined with priority triangles and sign B-7 with a stop line.

These signs and markings are also only intended for drivers. A pedestrian does not participate in these priority rules.

Examples

When approaching sign B-6 and priority triangles, you must give way to drivers on the intersecting road. In this case, a horse drawn carriage is approaching from the left on the intersecting road. The driver of the brommobiel must give way to this driver.

In this case, the moped rider is also approaching priority triangles. The pedestrian on the intersecting road must wait for the moped rider. The moped rider only has to give way to drivers and not pedestrians.

Here, the pedestrian must also wait. The snorfietser approaches a stop sign with a stop line. Due to the stop sign, the snorfietser must stop, but may immediately ride off again if no drivers approach from the left or right. A pedestrian is not a driver.

A tram driver always has the right of way at equivalent intersections. As soon as signs and road markings regulate the priority, the tram driver must follow these. In this case, the tram driver must wait for the moped rider.