Slippery roadFlanders
Traffic rules
Flanders
1. Slippery road
A slippery road has reduced tyre grip and can make steering, braking and acceleration less effective. Roads may become slippery because of rain, ice, snow, mud, oil, loose material or other substances on the surface. Drivers should reduce speed, increase their following distance and avoid sudden steering, braking or acceleration. Extra caution is needed in bends, on bridges and wherever the road surface changes unexpectedly.
Do you have to reduce your speed on a slippery road in Belgium?
Yes. Belgian traffic rules require drivers to adapt their speed to the condition of the road, weather, visibility and traffic situation. A posted speed limit may therefore still be too fast when the road is slippery.
Is there a traffic sign for a slippery road in Belgium?
Yes. Warning sign A15 indicates a slippery road. Under the current rules, an additional panel may specify the cause of the danger, such as snow, ice or a road that becomes slippery when wet.
Can the slippery-road sign be used for roads that are only slippery in certain conditions?
Yes. Belgian placement rules allow A15 to be combined with an additional panel indicating a particular condition, such as “when wet”. For seasonal hazards, temporary or variable signs may be used when the risk is present.
What should you do when you see a slippery-road warning sign in Belgium?
Reduce speed where necessary, increase your following distance and avoid sudden steering, acceleration or braking. The sign warns of a section where tyre grip may be reduced.
Will Belgium’s new Road Code still use the slippery-road warning sign?
Yes. The new Code of the Public Road retains A15 for a slippery road and introduces a separate A16 warning sign specifically for ice or snow.
