Special manoeuvres

While driving, you sometimes have to perform a special manoeuvre. While performing it, you should give way to all other traffic. Special manoeuvres include:

• Driving off
  This refers to pulling away after waiting on the side of the road or parking, e.g. in a parking space.
• Reversing
• Entering or exiting an entrance or exit construction
  An entrance or exit construction is regocnisable through a continuing pavement with lowered kerbs or driveway blocks. In a way, you must cross the pavement.
• (U)-Turning
  Turning the vehicle around to go in the opposite direction.
• Getting in lane
  For moped riders we speak of getting in lane when they enter the carriageway from the cycle/moped path. Entering the through carriageway from an acceleration lane also falls under this.
• Exiting
  For moped riders we speak of exiting when they enter the cycle/moped path from the carriageway. Exiting the through carriageway via a deceleration lane also falls under this.
• Changing lanes / important lateral movements
  An important lateral movement is not only changing lanes but also moving to the left or right to, for example, avoid an obstacle or to overtake another driver.

Getting on or off, or in our out

While getting on or off, or in or out, you are also not allowed to hinder other traffic. Therefore, when driving a brommobiel, walk against traffic as much as possible before getting in and after getting out. This way, you can see the traffic coming. Make sure any passengers pay attention to this as well.

With a moped, snorfiets or speed pedelec, make sure to not obstruct pedestrians when getting on or off.

Important lateral movement

Moving so far to the left or right that it is safer to indicate such to other traffic in advance.

Swerving and lateral movements

Sometimes, you must diverge from your driving line (important lateral movement). This may be necessary, for example, because you have to go around something or because you have to pass between a road narrowing. In that case, you must give way to oncoming traffic.
If you both have to diverge from the driving line, then you arrange among yourselves who gets to go first. In many of these cases, there are signs that regulate who may go first.

If you must pass each other on a narrow road, it can happen that someone must enter the verge. Consider that heavier vehicles, such as lorries and passenger cars with trailers, cannot enter the verge. They then run too much risk of the vehicles sinking or even toppling over. In that case, you must make extra space so that you can drive past each other.

With a two-wheeled vehicle, preferably do not enter the verge while riding! If you must go that far into the verge, it is best to briefly stop and let the other driver pass.

Indicating direction

In order for the other traffic to know what you are about to do, it is required to indicate direction when:

• Driving off
  Every time you start participating in traffic again, so after a short or long stop.
• Overtaking drivers of motor vehicles
  It is not required when overtaking other moped riders or cyclists, except when you must perform an important lateral movement in doing so.
• Getting in lane and exiting the through carriageway
• Changing lanes
• Performing important lateral movements

Important points to note

When performing a special manoeuvre, a few things are important:

• The manoeuvre should be as short in duration as possible.
• The manoeuvre should cause as little hindrance to other traffic as possible.
• The traffic safety may not be threatened.
• It must be permitted at the place where you perform the special manoeuvre.

Bus leaving a bus stop

Normally speaking, drivers should give way to all other traffic when driving off. There is one exception to this rule: you must give way to the driver of a bus, when they want to leave a bus stop within the built-up area.

Embarking and disembarking passengers

There are tram or bus stops where passengers must embark or disembark in the middle of the road. In these cases, pay attention to whether there is a refuge or central verge where passengers can wait. If this is not the case, then you must give way to passengers that cross the carriageway. If there is a refuge or central verge, you do not have to give way to them.