Panneaux de signalisationBruxelles

Yes. Belgian regulations require cars to carry one or more approved fire extinguishers according to the vehicle's characteristics.

For a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass of no more than 3500 kg, the extinguisher must contain at least 1 kg of BC or ABC powder. Heavier vehicles require a greater extinguishing capacity.

It must be securely mounted in a visible and easily accessible location. At least one extinguisher must be within the driver's reach, and the extinguisher must remain operational and within its stated validity period.

Yes. A retro-reflective safety vest must be carried in every car in Belgium.

When a vehicle breaks down on a motorway or an autoweg at a place where stopping or parking is prohibited, the driver must put on the retro-reflective safety vest as soon as they leave the vehicle.

Yes. Because the driver may need to put it on before or immediately after leaving the vehicle, it is sensible to keep the vest somewhere readily accessible rather than underneath luggage in the boot.

Call 112 when urgent medical assistance is required. Give the operator clear information about the location, the number of casualties and their apparent condition, and follow the instructions you receive.

Yes, when someone is in serious danger you should provide reasonable assistance if you can do so safely. This can include calling the emergency services and providing first aid within your abilities until professional help arrives.

No. First check for dangers such as moving traffic, fire, fuel or electricity. Protect yourself and others where possible, call the emergency services and only provide assistance that can be given safely.

Yes. Step-profile concrete barriers have been used as vehicle-restraint systems on Belgian roads. They can be constructed in place or installed as prefabricated barrier sections.

Its purpose is to contain or redirect vehicles that leave their normal path and reduce the consequences of reaching opposing traffic or another hazardous area. The required performance depends on the location and the road-restraint system selected.

Yes. Concrete road-restraint systems are classified according to performance requirements such as containment level, impact severity and working width. Belgian technical guidance applies the European NBN EN 1317 framework to STEP-profile barriers.

Barriers can be used to close roads or lanes, protect roadworks, control access and keep traffic away from dangerous areas. Their use is often combined with traffic signs, signals or other temporary traffic-management measures.

Yes. Some Belgian tunnels are equipped with boom barriers that can close the tunnel to incoming traffic during an incident, allowing the tunnel to be cleared and emergency procedures to begin safely.

No. Drivers must respect road closures and temporary traffic arrangements. A physical barrier used to close a road or lane must not be bypassed unless an authorised person or traffic-control measure specifically allows passage.

Between nightfall and daybreak, and whenever visibility is reduced so that it is no longer possible to see clearly for approximately 200 metres, motor vehicles must use dipped-beam or main-beam headlights together with the required rear lights.

Main beam must be replaced by dipped beam when approaching an oncoming road user who could be dazzled, when following another vehicle at less than 50 metres except while overtaking, and when the road is continuously and sufficiently illuminated to allow clear visibility for approximately 100 metres.

Front fog lights may only be used in fog, snowfall or heavy rain. Rear fog lights must be used in fog or snowfall when visibility is reduced to less than 100 metres and also in heavy rain, and they may not be used in other circumstances.

Yes. Between nightfall and daybreak, motor vehicles must use the required vehicle lights even when the road has street lighting. Street lighting does not replace the vehicle's own lighting.

No, when the carriageway is continuously and sufficiently illuminated so that the driver can see clearly for approximately 100 metres, main beam must be switched off and replaced by dipped beam.

Not always. The prescribed lights for a stopped or parked vehicle are only required when the public lighting does not allow the vehicle to be clearly seen from approximately 100 metres away.

Dipped beam must be used when vehicle lighting is required and main beam may not be used. This includes situations where main beam could dazzle an approaching road user, when following another vehicle at less than 50 metres except while overtaking, and on a continuously well-lit road where the driver can see clearly for approximately 100 metres.

You must switch to dipped beam when approaching another road user who could be dazzled, when approaching a rail vehicle or boat whose operator could be dazzled, when following another vehicle at less than 50 metres except while overtaking, and on a sufficiently illuminated road where visibility is approximately 100 metres.

Yes. Two-wheeled mopeds and motorcycles travelling on public roads must continuously use their dipped-beam headlight and red rear light, including during daytime. Main beam may not be used for this daytime-lighting requirement.

High beam may be used when vehicle lighting is required and none of the situations requiring dipped beam applies. It is particularly useful on dark roads where it can be used without dazzling other road users.

You must switch to dipped beam when approaching a road user who could be dazzled, when following another vehicle at less than 50 metres except while overtaking, and when the road is continuously and sufficiently illuminated so that you can see clearly for approximately 100 metres.

Yes. When an approaching driver repeatedly flashes their high beams to indicate that they are being dazzled, you must switch from high beam to dipped beam.

Front fog lights may only be used during fog, snowfall or heavy rain. They may replace dipped beam or main beam or may be used together with those lights.

Rear fog lights must be used when fog or snowfall reduces visibility to less than 100 metres and also during heavy rain.

No. Rear fog lights may not be used outside the circumstances permitted by the Road Code because their strong light can unnecessarily affect drivers travelling behind.

Front fog lights may only be used during fog, snowfall or heavy rain. They may not be used simply because it is dark or because the driver wants additional illumination.

Yes. When their use is permitted because of fog, snowfall or heavy rain, front fog lights may replace dipped beam or high beam, or they may be used together with those lights.

No specific visibility-distance threshold applies to front fog lights under the current rule. Their use depends on the presence of fog, snowfall or heavy rain. The 100-metre visibility threshold applies to rear fog lights in fog or snow, not to front fog lights.

Rear fog lights must be used when fog or snowfall reduces visibility to less than approximately 100 metres. They must also be used during heavy rain.

No. The 100-metre threshold applies specifically to fog and snowfall. During heavy rain, rear fog lights must be used without a separate visibility-distance threshold being specified.

No. Rear fog lights may only be used in the circumstances prescribed by the Road Code. They must be switched off when those conditions no longer apply.

No. When vehicle lighting is required while driving, a motor vehicle must use dipped-beam or high-beam headlights at the front and the required red lights at the rear. Side lights alone are therefore not sufficient for normal night driving.

Between nightfall and daybreak, and when visibility is reduced to less than approximately 200 metres, a stationary or parked motor vehicle must use the prescribed position and rear lights when public lighting does not make the vehicle clearly visible from approximately 100 metres.

Yes, under certain conditions within built-up areas. When the vehicle is parked parallel to the road and has no trailer attached, its position and rear lights may be replaced by a parking light on the side facing the centre of the carriageway.

You must use them in good time before a manoeuvre or movement involving a lateral displacement or change of direction, such as turning or changing lanes. Signalling does not remove the obligation to give way when the applicable rules require it.

No. Although entering a roundabout is legally considered a change of direction, Belgian rules specifically state that the direction indicators do not have to be used when entering it.

Yes. Leaving a roundabout is considered a change of direction for which the direction indicators must be used. The signal should be cancelled once the exit movement has been completed.

Hazard lights may be used in the situations specifically provided for by the Road Code and to warn other road users of an imminent danger of an accident. This can include warning traffic behind of an unexpected dangerous situation.

Yes. If a vehicle cannot be moved or has to remain where stopping or parking is prohibited, the driver may use the hazard lights as an additional warning. The required warning triangle must also be placed where the applicable rules require it.

Yes, when the sudden queue creates an imminent risk of a collision. Briefly using the hazard lights can warn following drivers of the danger, but they should not remain on once the warning is no longer necessary.

The symbols and colours used on modern vehicles generally follow international and European vehicle standards rather than unique Belgian meanings. Drivers should therefore follow the vehicle manufacturer's instructions for each warning light.

Not automatically. A red warning can indicate a serious safety or mechanical problem. The driver should follow the vehicle manufacturer's instructions and stop safely as soon as necessary if continued driving could be dangerous.

Yes. Warning indicators linked to safety or emissions systems can be checked during technical inspection. A fault indicated by systems such as ABS, airbags or emissions control may result in a defect being recorded.

Yes. Drivers and passengers in cars must wear the seat belts provided at their seating positions. The belt must be used in a way that does not reduce its protective function.

Children under 18 who are shorter than 135 cm must generally travel in an appropriate child-restraint system rather than using an adult seat belt alone. Specific exceptions apply in certain situations.

Yes, but only in specific circumstances. Medical exemptions require an official exemption based on a medical certificate, and certain limited exemptions also apply to particular drivers or activities specified by the Road Code.

Children under 18 who are shorter than 135 cm must generally be transported in a child-restraint system that is suitable for them. Children who are at least 135 cm tall may use the vehicle's seat belt instead.

Yes, but only if there is no frontal airbag at that seating position or if the frontal airbag has been switched off or is automatically deactivated adequately. A rear-facing child restraint may not be placed in front of an active frontal airbag.

Only in specific exceptions provided by the Road Code. For example, under certain conditions a child aged three or older may use a seat belt on a rear seat when no suitable child restraint is available for occasional short-distance transport. These exceptions do not remove the general requirement to use a suitable child-restraint system.

Its purpose is to limit excessive rearward movement of the occupant's head during a collision and thereby reduce the risk of injury to the neck and cervical spine.

Yes. Where the head restraint is adjustable, it should be positioned correctly for the occupant. As part of the practical driving examination, candidates may be asked to demonstrate that the head restraint is correctly positioned so that it supports the head when it moves slightly backwards.

No. Head restraints that form part of the vehicle's approved safety equipment should remain installed. Removing safety equipment can affect the vehicle's compliance and reduce occupant protection.

An airbag is part of the vehicle's supplemental restraint system and is designed to provide additional occupant protection during certain collisions.

No. Drivers and passengers must still wear the required seat belts. Airbags are designed to supplement the protection provided by the seat belt.

No. A child under 18 may not be transported in a rear-facing child-restraint system on a passenger seat protected by an active frontal airbag.

It may be used only when the front passenger airbag is deactivated or when the vehicle automatically deactivates it adequately for the rear-facing child restraint.

Yes, where appropriate. If the airbag was manually deactivated for a rear-facing child restraint, follow the manufacturer's instructions and reactivate it before carrying a passenger for whom the airbag is intended to provide protection.

An illuminated airbag or SRS warning light normally indicates that the vehicle has detected a fault in the supplemental restraint system. The fault should be diagnosed and repaired.

Yes, where applicable. European technical-inspection rules include checks for missing, unsuitable or clearly non-functioning airbags and faults indicated by the SRS system. The precise inspection procedure is administered by the Belgian regions.

In Flanders, an airbag that does not work or an airbag or SRS warning indicating a defect can result in a red inspection certificate requiring a reinspection within 15 days.

A vehicle must continue to comply with its applicable technical approval and inspection requirements. Required safety equipment should therefore not be removed or altered in a way that makes the vehicle non-compliant.

No. A deployed airbag is a single-use safety component. The affected restraint system must be properly repaired and the necessary components replaced before the vehicle is considered correctly restored.

No. Do not attach or place objects where they could interfere with an airbag's deployment. Follow the vehicle manufacturer's instructions concerning dashboard, steering-wheel, seat and curtain-airbag areas.

No. Side and curtain airbags provide additional protection but do not replace the seat belt or an appropriate child-restraint system.

ABS automatically regulates braking pressure when a wheel is about to lock during strong braking. This helps the wheels continue rotating sufficiently for the driver to retain directional control.

No. On a vehicle equipped with ABS, the driver should normally apply firm continuous pressure to the brake pedal. Rapid vibration or pulsing in the pedal can occur while the system is operating and does not by itself indicate a fault.

No. ABS cannot overcome the limits of tyre grip and does not guarantee a shorter stopping distance. Drivers must still adapt their speed and following distance to the road, weather and traffic conditions.

ESP means Electronic Stability Program and is also commonly called ESC, or Electronic Stability Control. It is an active safety system that helps stabilise the vehicle when it detects a loss of directional control.

The system compares the vehicle's actual movement with the direction intended by the driver. When necessary, it can automatically brake one or more individual wheels and may adjust engine power to help stabilise the vehicle.

No. ESP provides additional assistance but cannot overcome the limits of tyre grip. Drivers must still adapt their speed to rain, snow, ice, bends and other road conditions and remain responsible for maintaining safe control of the vehicle.