Belgium Theory B flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Yellow diamond sign

A yellow diamond with a white border marks a priority road in Belgium; traffic on it has right of way at intersections until a sign with a black diagonal band ends that priority.

Red plus amber light

When red and amber appear together, drivers must prepare to move but may not proceed; they may only go when the green light appears, unless a green arrow permits.

Continuous white line

A solid white line along the centre or edge of the road may not be crossed by drivers; crossing it to overtake or turn is an offence unless specifically permitted.

St Andrew's cross

A St Andrew's cross marks a railway level crossing without barriers; drivers must approach with caution and stop if flashing red lights or a bell warn of a train.

Right-hand priority rule

At an intersection without signs or signals in Belgium, drivers must yield to traffic approaching from their right; this default rule applies unless signs or lights state otherwise.

Leaving a private property

A driver leaving a garage, driveway, parking area or unpaved road must yield to all traffic and pedestrians already on the public road before entering it.

Tram priority

Trams generally have priority over other vehicles unless signs or signals indicate otherwise; drivers must give way to a tram approaching from any direction at an intersection.

Entering a roundabout

Where a roundabout has yield signs, entering traffic must give way to vehicles already circulating; without such signs the right-hand priority rule may apply instead.

Periodic technical inspection

Belgian private cars are first inspected after four years and then generally every two years; the certificate must be valid for the vehicle to be legally driven.

Tyre tread minimum

Passenger car tyres must have at least 1.6 mm of tread across the central three-quarters of the tyre and must match the manufacturer's specifications without damage.

Child restraint rule

Children under 1.35 metres tall must use an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight; seat belts are mandatory for all occupants of the vehicle.

Reflective vest use

A reflective vest must be worn when leaving a vehicle stopped on the road or hard shoulder at night or in poor visibility; a warning triangle must also be placed behind the vehicle.

Two-second rule

A driver should stay at least two seconds behind the vehicle ahead in good conditions; the gap should increase to four seconds or more in rain, at night or in poor visibility.

Stopping distance formula

Stopping distance equals reaction distance plus braking distance; braking distance grows with the square of speed, so doubling speed roughly quadruples the braking distance.

Aquaplaning response

When a vehicle aquaplanes on wet road, the driver should ease off the accelerator, hold the steering steady and avoid sudden braking until the tyres regain grip.

Heavy vehicle blind spots

Heavy goods vehicles have large blind spots around and behind them; drivers should avoid lingering alongside or close behind such vehicles, especially at junctions and turns.

Built-up area limit

The general speed limit inside a built-up area in Belgium is 50 km/h; a zone 30 sign lowers it to 30 km/h until an end-of-zone sign appears.

Motorway speed limit

The general speed limit on Belgian motorways is 120 km/h; lower limits may be posted for road works, weather or specific sections and always override the general limit.

Stopping versus parking

Stopping means a brief halt to set down passengers or load; parking means leaving the vehicle for longer, and different rules and prohibitions apply to each.

Parking near crossings

Parking is prohibited within 5 metres before a pedestrian crossing, on pavements unless permitted, at bus stops, on cycle paths and in front of driveways.

Belgian alcohol limit

The legal blood alcohol limit in Belgium is 0.5 g per litre of blood; novice drivers within two years of passing and professional drivers face a stricter 0.2 g/L limit.

Medication warning pictogram

Medicines that impair alertness carry a warning pictogram on the package leaflet; drivers should consult a doctor or pharmacist before driving after taking them.

Fatigue countermeasures

Fatigue impairs reaction time and judgement; the effective response is to stop for a rest, take a short nap and use caffeine, not to open a window or raise music volume.

Alcohol elimination rate

The body eliminates alcohol at roughly 0.1 to 0.15 g per litre of blood per hour; coffee, cold showers and food do not speed up sobering, so morning-after driving can still be over the limit.

Compulsory car insurance

Third-party liability insurance is compulsory for every motor vehicle in Belgium; driving without insurance is an offence carrying heavy fines and possible vehicle seizure.

European accident report

After a collision, drivers should complete the European accident report form at the scene, sign it and send it promptly to their insurers to support the claim.

Driving without a licence

Driving without a valid licence, or outside the category held, is a serious offence that can lead to prosecution, fines, licence withdrawal and imprisonment.

Hit-and-run offence

Leaving the scene of a collision without stopping and identifying yourself is a serious criminal offence in Belgium, with penalties including imprisonment and licence withdrawal.

Warning sign placement

Warning signs are placed about 150 metres before the hazard outside built-up areas and about 50 metres inside built-up areas, unless a supplementary plate states otherwise.

Zebra crossing priority

At a pedestrian crossing marked by broad white stripes, drivers must yield to pedestrians on the crossing or clearly about to use it and must not overtake a stopped vehicle there.

All-way stop priority

When two vehicles arrive simultaneously at an all-way stop, the vehicle on the right has priority; a vehicle already in the intersection should be allowed to clear it.

Blue zone parking disc

In a blue zone, parking requires a visible disc showing the arrival time; staying beyond the permitted time results in a fine, and illegal parking may lead to towing.