Special roads and manoeuvres explained simply

Terms to know first

The right terms help you recognise what an exam question is asking.

Bijzondere manoeuvre, special manoeuvre: Moving off, reversing, turning around, merging, leaving and changing lanes are examples.
Uitrit, exit: A recognisable exit, often with a continuous pavement or lowered exit construction.
Bestuurder, driver: Every road user except a pedestrian. Cyclists, horse riders and moped riders are drivers too.

1. During a special manoeuvre, you wait

The rule applies to every other road user, including pedestrians.

Check all around, signal when required and begin only when the whole manoeuvre is safe.
Leaving an exit is a special manoeuvre. Traffic on the continuing road goes first.
When two people perform special manoeuvres together, they resolve the situation safely without causing danger.

Are you doing something special? Let all other traffic go first.

RVV articles 54 and 55

The car crosses the continuous pavement and cycle path. The cyclist and pedestrian go first.

1. Continuing traffic2. Car from the exitView the diagram full size

Car reverses into a marked parking bay on a quiet Dutch street — Reversing into a parking bay is a special manoeuvre. Let all other traffic go first and start only when the space is clear.

2. Home zone, motor road and motorway

The entry sign starts the special rules. The end sign ends them.

In a home zone, pedestrians may use the full width. Drivers travel at no more than 15 km/h and park only in designated places.
A motor road is for motor vehicles able and permitted to travel at least 50 km/h.
A motorway is for motor vehicles able and permitted to travel at least 60 km/h.

Recognise the entry sign first. Then you know which road rules apply.

RVV articles 42 to 46

The official G1 to G6 signs with their code below each sign — G1 and G2 start and end a motorway. G3 and G4 start and end a motor road. G5 and G6 start and end a home zone.

3. Merging safely onto a motorway

Moving from the acceleration lane onto the through carriageway is a special manoeuvre. Traffic on the through carriageway has priority.

Use the acceleration lane to build speed and identify a safe gap early. Check mirrors and blind spot and signal in time.
Cross the block marking only when the gap is large enough. Never force another driver to brake or change direction.
Traffic on the through carriageway may make space when safe, but does not have to let you in. Signalling does not give priority.
An acceleration lane comes from an entry ramp and lies beside block markings. An emergency shoulder lies beyond a solid line and is only for emergencies, unless opened as a peak-hour lane.

Match speed, choose a gap and merge only when you can do so without hindering anyone.

RVV articles 54 and 55

Blue car travels on an acceleration lane beside a white car on the through carriageway — The block marking identifies an acceleration lane. The blue car merges only when there is enough space; traffic on the through carriageway has priority.

4. Recognise special road users

Some groups have a special place or protection. Read the vehicle, sign and situation.

Do not cut through a recognised military convoy or funeral procession that is already passing.
Users of disability vehicles follow pedestrian or driver rules depending on where and how they travel.
Horse riders, cyclists and moped riders are drivers. A pedestrian is not.

First decide: driver, pedestrian, funeral procession or military convoy?

RVV articles 2, 16 and 29 to 31

5. Vehicle, mechanically powered vehicle and motor vehicle

These terms look similar, but a question may test the exact difference.

Under RVV, bicycles, mopeds, disability vehicles, motor vehicles, trams and wagons are vehicles. A train is not included.
A mechanically powered vehicle moves by mechanical power. A motor vehicle is a narrower RVV group with legal exceptions.
A pedestrian is not a driver. Cyclists, moped riders, horse riders and motor-vehicle drivers are drivers.

First classify the person and the vehicle.

Comparison of a bicycle, moped, disability vehicle, motor vehicle, tram, horse-drawn vehicle and train — The first six are vehicles under RVV. A train is not included in this definition.

6. Bicycle, e-bike, fatbike, light moped and moped

Look at assistance, design speed, power, throttle, registration plate and the required place on the road.

A normal e-bike assists only while pedalling, up to 25 km/h and with no more than 250 watts. Bicycle rules apply.
A fatbike is legally an e-bike when it meets the same requirements. Without pedalling, a throttle may assist only up to 6 km/h.
A light moped has a design speed up to 25 km/h and a blue plate. A moped goes up to 45 km/h and normally has a yellow plate.
A speed pedelec is legally a moped. If a fatbike does not meet e-bike requirements, it needs valid approval in another vehicle class; without it, the vehicle is not allowed on public roads.
An approved helmet is required for light mopeds, mopeds and speed pedelecs.

The design name does not decide the legal class. Check assistance, power, speed, throttle and approval.

Comparison of a bicycle, e-bike, fatbike, light moped, moped and speed pedelec — Appearance does not decide the legal category. Check pedal assistance, power, speed, throttle, registration and approval.

7. Zones, tunnels and level crossings

An entry sign starts a set of rules. The matching end sign ends them.

A zone applies until its end sign. A supplementary plate may limit it by time, distance or vehicle group.
Enter a tunnel only when you can leave it. Follow its direction, markings and signs; limited visibility usually makes turning or reversing dangerous or prohibited.
Enter a level crossing only if you can clear it without stopping. Red lights and lowering barriers mean stop.

For a special area, always read the start, end and supplementary plate.

The official H1, H2, L13, J12 and J13 signs with their code below each sign — H1 and H2 mark the start and end of a built-up area. L13 indicates a traffic tunnel. J12 warns of one railway track and J13 of two or more tracks.

8. Turning around and U-turns: when are they allowed?

Turning around is a special manoeuvre. There is no general U-turn ban on an ordinary road, but the complete route and situation must allow it.

Do not assume a U-turn is prohibited only because you are at a junction, on a priority road or inside a built-up area. Those facts are not a prohibition by themselves. Check for a ban, mandatory direction or marking, then assess visibility and space.
Do not turn at sign F7, against a mandatory direction or one-way road, across a solid line or physical separator. Also obey the arrows for your lane and traffic light.
Turning around and reversing are always prohibited on a motor road and motorway. Never use the emergency shoulder, verge or central reservation to return.
Throughout the U-turn, let all other traffic go first, even with a green light. This includes cyclists, pedestrians and trams. Signalling does not change this.
On a narrow road, every forward and reversing movement of a multi-point turn is another special manoeuvre. Stop when you would hinder someone or create danger.

Turn only when no control or marking prohibits it, you have full visibility and space, and nobody is hindered.

RVV articles 43, 54, 55, 62, 68, 76 and 78; Road Traffic Act article 5

Four clear road situations: a U-turn allowed on an ordinary road and prohibited by sign F7, a solid line, motor-road sign G3 or motorway sign G1 — **When a U-turn is and is not allowed**Green shows the only permitted example route. Red shows the F7 U-turn ban, the solid-line crossing ban and the general U-turn ban on a G3 motor road and G1 motorway.

9. Classify the road user first

The correct category decides the place, priority and conduct rule.

Pedestrians are not drivers. A person walking a bicycle, moped or motorcycle follows pedestrian rules.
Under RVV, vehicles include bicycles, mopeds, disability vehicles, motor vehicles, trams and wagons. A train is not a vehicle under this RVV definition.
A disability-vehicle driver on a pavement or footpath follows pedestrian rules. On a cycle path or carriageway, driver rules apply.
A horse rider and the driver of a horse-drawn or other wagon are drivers. First recognise the person, vehicle and place on the road.

Category and place first, traffic rule second.

RVV articles 1 and 2

What to remember before the exam

If you can explain these rules without help, you understand the core of this topic.

Let all other traffic go first during a special manoeuvre.
Leaving an exit is a special manoeuvre.
Drive at no more than 15 km/h and park only in designated places in a home zone.
Merging and leaving do not give you priority.
Use an emergency lane, refuge or verge only in an emergency.
A U-turn is a special manoeuvre. Turn only where no sign, direction, marking or road layout prohibits it and nobody is hindered.
A person walking a bicycle follows pedestrian rules.
A disability vehicle follows pedestrian or driver rules depending on where it travels.

Check yourself

Think first. Then open the answer.

1You leave an exit across a continuous cycle path. Who goes first?

The cyclist and all other traffic on the continuing road.

2Does signalling while merging give you priority?

No. It shows your intention, but traffic on the main carriageway has priority.

3Where may you park in a home zone?

Only in spaces marked or designated for parking.

4May you make a U-turn or reverse on a motorway?

No. Turning around and reversing are always prohibited on a motor road and motorway.

5Someone walks with a bicycle. Are they a driver at that moment?

No. They follow pedestrian rules.

Official sources

This summary uses the official CBR topics, RVV 1990, the Dutch Road Traffic Act and the Vehicle Regulations.

CBR: theory exam topics Overheid.nl: RVV 1990 Overheid.nl: Dutch Road Traffic Act Overheid.nl: Vehicle Regulations Overheid.nl: Driving Licence Regulations

Up to date

Try this in the free trial exam

You have read the rules. Now see if you recognise them in questions like the ones on the exam. The trial exam is free and needs no account.

Start the free trial exam

Choose the next topic

Return to the overview and continue. The nine lessons help you review the theory.

Back to the overview

Special roads, road users and manoeuvres