Traffic signsFlanders

Traffic signs

A traffic sign is a standardised visual symbol placed along roads to guide, warn, or regulate drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. These signs provide essential information about road conditions, rules, directions, and potential hazards, helping to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow. They come in various shapes and colours—such as triangular warning signs, circular prohibitory or mandatory signs, and rectangular information signs—each designed for quick recognition and clear understanding.

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What are Belgian A-series traffic signs?

The A series mainly consists of warning signs. They warn road users of a danger ahead, such as dangerous curves, road narrowing, slippery roads, pedestrian crossings or railway crossings.

Warning for a danger with no specific traffic sign.

Signal routier A51 • Danger non défini par un symbole spécial. Un panneau additionnel indique la nature du danger.

Verkeersbord A51 • Gevaar dat niet door een speciaal symbool wordt bepaald. Een onderbord duidt de aard van het gevaar aan.

Warning for a movable bridge.

Signal routier A9 • Pont mobile.

Verkeersbord A9 • Beweegbare brug.

What are Belgian B-series traffic signs?

The B series contains priority signs. These signs regulate matters such as giving way, stopping, priority roads, priority from the right and priority at narrow passages.

Stop and give way.

Signal routier B5 • Marquer l’arrêt et céder la priorité.

Verkeersbord B5 • Stoppen en voorrang verlenen.

Give way.

Signal routier B1 • Céder la priorité.

Verkeersbord B1 • Voorrang verlenen.

What are Belgian C-series traffic signs?

The C series contains prohibition and restriction signs. They can prohibit access, restrict particular categories of vehicles, impose a maximum speed or prohibit certain manoeuvres.

No entry.

Signal routier C1 • Sens interdit à tout conducteur.

Verkeersbord C1 • Verboden richting voor iedere bestuurder.

Access prohibited in both directions.

Signal routier C3 • Accès interdit, dans les deux sens, à tout conducteur.

Verkeersbord C3 • Verboden toegang, in beide richtingen, voor iedere bestuurder.

What are Belgian D-series traffic signs?

The D series contains mandatory signs. They can require drivers to follow a particular direction or require certain road users to use a designated part of the public road.

Driving straight ahead mandatory.

Signal routier D1 • Obligation de suivre la direction indiquée par la flèche. La disposition des lieux détermine la position de la flèche. Si le signal présentant une flèche non coudée, est placé sur un obstacle, il signifie obligation de passer du côté indiqué par la flèche.

Verkeersbord D1 • Verplichting de door de pijl aangeduide richting te volgen. De plaatsgesteldheid bepaalt de stand van de pijl. Wanneer het verkeersbord dat een niet-gebogen pijl voorstelt, op een hindernis geplaatst is, betekent het dat langs de door de pijl aangeduide richting moet voorbijgereden worden.

What are Belgian E-series traffic signs?

The E series contains signs concerning stopping and parking. They can prohibit stopping or parking or indicate and regulate parking places.

Parking prohibited.

Signal routier E1 • Stationnement interdit.

Verkeersbord E1 • Parkeerverbod.

What are Belgian F-series traffic signs?

The F series mainly contains indication signs and signs establishing particular traffic situations, such as motorways, built-up areas, one-way roads, bus lanes, pedestrian crossings and dead-end roads.

Start of a built-up area.

Signal routier F1b • Commencement d'une agglomération. Ce signal est placé à droite, à chaque accès d'une agglomération; il peut être répété à gauche.

Verkeersbord F1b • Begin van een bebouwde kom. Dit verkeersbord wordt rechts geplaatst op elke toegangsweg tot een bebouwde kom; het mag links herhaald worden.

Are Belgian traffic signs legally binding?

Yes. Road users must obey Belgian traffic signs when they are regular in form, sufficiently visible and installed in accordance with the applicable rules.

What takes priority if Belgian traffic instructions, signs and rules conflict?

Instructions given by authorised persons take priority over traffic signs and the ordinary traffic rules. Traffic signs take priority over the ordinary traffic rules. When traffic lights are operating at a location, priority signs placed on the same road do not apply there.

Are traffic lights and road markings also traffic signs?

No. Belgian law distinguishes between traffic lights, traffic signs and road markings. Together they form the traffic-signalling system that road users must follow.

How are Belgian traffic signs currently classified?

Under the current Belgian Road Code, traffic signs are divided into six categories: warning signs, priority signs, prohibitory signs, mandatory signs, signs concerning stopping and parking, and information signs.

Can an additional sign change the meaning of a Belgian traffic sign?

Yes. An additional sign placed below a traffic sign can supplement, specify or limit its meaning. It may indicate matters such as a distance, the length of a regulation, a period, a particular vehicle category or an exception.

Can Belgian traffic signs be displayed electronically?

Yes. Traffic signs can be displayed using dynamic or variable signalling. Their colours may be adapted for the electronic display, but red remains red and the legal meaning of the sign does not change.

Who is allowed to place traffic signs on Belgian public roads?

Traffic signs may normally only be placed by the legally competent authorities. Temporary signalling may also be used in specific circumstances, such as roadworks, traffic obstructions or emergencies, in accordance with the applicable rules.

Why is Belgium introducing new traffic signs?

Belgium’s new Code of the Public Road modernises and reorganises the traffic-sign system. Many signs have been adapted to use simpler and more internationally harmonised symbols, while obsolete signs are removed and several situations receive their own dedicated signs instead of relying on combinations of existing signs and additional panels.

How will Belgian traffic signs look different under the new Road Code?

Many signs receive modernised and simplified symbols. Warning and prohibitory signs receive a white contrast border, additional contrast is introduced between blue and red areas on certain signs, and the current blue additional signs are replaced by white panels with black symbols or text.

How are traffic signs classified under Belgium’s new Road Code?

The new Code keeps the familiar A, B, C, D, E and F series and adds a clearer structure with R-series signs for special regulations, Z-series signs for zonal regulations and M-series additional signs.

When do Belgium’s new traffic signs become valid?

Belgium’s new Code of the Public Road takes effect on 1 June 2027. The new traffic signs may not be used before that date.

Must all current Belgian traffic signs be replaced on 1 June 2027?

No. Most current Belgian traffic signs may remain in use during a long transition period and do not have to be replaced immediately. Most old models remain valid until 1 January 2045.

Are there Belgian traffic signs that must be replaced earlier?

Yes. Traffic signs E5, E7 and E11 lose their meaning on 1 June 2027. The current F17 and F18 bus-lane signs and associated markings lose their meaning on 1 June 2030, while certain current F111 and F113 cycling-zone signs lose their meaning on 1 January 2035.

Can an old Belgian traffic sign remain in place but receive the meaning of the new Road Code?

Yes. Many current signs may physically remain in place during the transition period. From 1 June 2027, they are interpreted according to the new Code of the Public Road unless a specific transitional provision provides otherwise.

Should drivers learn both the current and new Belgian traffic signs?

Yes. The current traffic signs remain relevant until the new Code takes effect, and many old designs will remain on Belgian roads for years afterwards. During the transition period, drivers should therefore be able to recognise both current and new traffic signs.