Safe driving and emergencies explained clearly

Terms to know first

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

Reactieafstand, reaction distance: The distance travelled between noticing danger and starting to brake.
Stopafstand, stopping distance: Reaction distance plus braking distance. Speed and poor grip increase it sharply.
Remweg, braking distance: Distance from the start of braking until the vehicle stops.
Volgafstand, following distance: Space to the vehicle ahead. Two seconds is a practical minimum in good conditions, not a fixed legal distance.

1. Leave room for mistakes

Distance gives you time to see, decide and brake.

Keep at least about two seconds in good conditions and increase it in rain, ice or poor visibility.
When speed doubles, braking distance increases by much more than double.
Stay out of blind spots and make sure others can see you.

More speed, less sight or less grip means more distance.

RVV articles 5 and 19

Choose a fixed point. The lead car passes it, and the following car reaches it at least two seconds later.

View the diagram full size

2. Lights and signals

Use light to see and be seen without dazzling others.

Dipped headlights are required at night and during the day when visibility is seriously reduced.
Do not use main beam during the day, for oncoming traffic or when close behind another vehicle.
Use fog lights only in the legally intended poor-visibility conditions.

Choose the light that gives visibility without disturbing anyone.

RVV articles 32 to 35

Dashboard-style symbols for dipped beam, main beam, front fog light and rear fog light with their Dutch names — Recognise the symbol before using the light. Dipped beam is green, main beam blue, front fog green and rear fog amber. Use each light only in the conditions allowed by the rule.

3. Seat belts, children and loose items

Every occupant needs protection and loose objects must not become dangerous.

Everyone uses the available seat belt. One belt is for one person.
Children shorter than 1.35 metres use an approved, suitable child seat.
A rear-facing child seat may be placed in front only with the front airbag switched off.

Before leaving, check belts, child seat, head restraints and loose luggage.

RVV articles 57 and 59

Driver sits upright with a correctly worn seat belt and properly adjusted head restraint — The belt runs across the shoulder and hips. Adjust the seat and head restraint before leaving.

4. Breakdown, collision and emergency vehicle

Protect people first. Then manage traffic, assistance and damage.

After a breakdown, use hazard lights, move the vehicle as safely as possible and leave the carriageway when possible.
Call 112 for immediate danger or injury and help without putting yourself at risk.
Give space to an emergency vehicle using blue flashing lights and a siren without making a dangerous move.

Safety first, then help, then details and damage.

RVV articles 29, 30, 50 and 58; WVW article 7

Car with hazard lights on the emergency shoulder and two people safely behind the barrier — Move the car fully onto the emergency shoulder, warn traffic and wait behind the barrier where possible.

5. Choose the correct light

Lights help you see and be seen without dazzling others.

Use dipped headlights in darkness and during the day when visibility is seriously reduced. Position lights alone are not driving lights.
Do not use main beam during the day, for oncoming traffic or when following another vehicle at short distance.
Daytime running lights make the front visible, but rear lights may remain off. Use dipped headlights in poor visibility.
Front fog lights are allowed when fog, snow or rain seriously reduces visibility. Rear fog lights only below 50 metres in fog or snow, never in heavy rain.
Rear lights and registration-plate lighting operate with main beam, dipped beam, position lights or fog lights.
Outside a built-up area, use position and rear lights when parked in darkness or poor visibility on the carriageway, or in designated stopping areas along a motor road or motorway.

The rear fog light is not for heavy rain.

RVV articles 32 to 40

Car using dipped headlights on a wet Dutch road at dusk — Dipped headlights make the car visible and light the road without unnecessarily dazzling oncoming traffic.

6. Rain, ice and aquaplaning

Grip can disappear before the legal maximum speed changes.

Reduce speed early, increase the following gap and steer and brake smoothly.
During aquaplaning, ease off the accelerator, keep the steering stable and avoid hard braking.
Bridges, shaded areas and road markings may become slippery before the rest of the road.

Less grip requires less speed and more distance.

7. Breakdown and warning others

The Netherlands has no fixed equipment list for every car, but you must clearly prevent danger.

Use hazard lights and move people to a safe place as soon as possible.
If hazard lights are not used and the car forms an obstruction, place a warning triangle about 30 metres away.
On a motorway, wait behind the barrier where possible and call for help from a safe place.

People safe, warn traffic, then arrange help.

8. Know the four distance types

Keep reaction, braking, stopping and following distance separate.

Reaction distance is travelled before braking starts. Speed, attention, fatigue, alcohol and expectation affect it.
Braking distance begins when braking starts. Speed, tyres, brakes, road surface, weather and load affect it.
Stopping distance is reaction distance plus braking distance. You must be able to stop within the distance you can see to be clear.
Following distance gives reaction time. Use about two seconds in good conditions and increase it in rain, ice, poor visibility or with a heavy load.

React first, then brake: together they form stopping distance.

RVV article 19

Four diagrams for reaction distance, braking distance, stopping distance and following distance — **The four distance types**Reaction distance comes before braking. Reaction distance and braking distance form stopping distance. Following distance is the space to the vehicle ahead.

9. Child seat and airbag

The seat must suit the child, be approved and be installed as the seat and vehicle manuals require.

A child shorter than 1.35 metres uses an approved, suitable child seat in the front or rear.
A baby should preferably travel rear-facing for as long as possible. The rear seat position shown is allowed.
A rear-facing seat may be used in front only when that seat’s airbag is switched off.
Check ISOFIX or the vehicle belt, support leg or top tether and the child harness according to the manual. Do not combine methods the manufacturer does not prescribe.

Rear-facing in front always means airbag off.

RVV article 59

Rear-facing child seat correctly placed on a rear seat — A rear-facing seat is allowed in the rear. Use one in front only when that seat’s airbag is switched off.

10. If the car enters water

Do not wait for the car to fill. Act immediately and leave belongings behind.

Release the belt and immediately open a side window. If it fails, use a safety hammer kept within reach on a corner of a non-laminated side or rear window.
Know beforehand which windows use laminated glass. A safety hammer will not break it; the rear window is often the usable escape route in that case.
Leave through the open window. Do not first force doors against the water pressure and do not wait for the car to sink.
Call 112 once safely out and help others only without putting yourself back in danger.

Belt off, side window open or broken, get out.

Car sits front-first in a Dutch canal with the driver window open — Do not wait for the car to fill. Release the belt, open a window immediately and leave through the opening.

What to remember before the exam

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

Keep at least about two seconds in good conditions.
Increase distance and reduce speed in poor conditions.
Use lights without dazzling others.
Each occupant uses the correct belt or child restraint.
In an emergency, protect people and warn traffic first.
Stopping distance is reaction distance plus braking distance.
A rear-facing child seat is allowed in the rear; in front the airbag must be off.
In water, act immediately: belt off, side window open or broken, get out.

Check yourself

Think first. Then open the answer.

1Heavy rain starts. Are two seconds always enough?

No. Poor sight and grip require more distance and lower speed.

2May a baby sit rear-facing in front of an active airbag?

No. The airbag must be switched off for that seat.

3What comes first after a motorway breakdown?

Protect people, warn traffic and move behind the barrier when possible.

4May a rear-facing child seat be used on the rear seat?

Yes, if it is approved, suitable and installed according to the manuals.

5What makes up stopping distance?

Reaction distance plus braking distance.

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

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