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The motorway is a major road designed to allow fast and smooth vehicle traffic. It has specific characteristics and rules that are essential to know in order to drive safely. Let us discover the main aspects of motorway driving.

The motorway

Definition of the motorway

The motorway is a public road with two directions of traffic divided into 4 or more lanes with at least two lanes in the same direction, and whose directions of traffic are separated by a central reservation. Its start is indicated by sign F5 and its end by sign F7.

L'autoroute est une voie publique à deux sens de circulation divisée en 4 bandes ou plus avec au moins deux bandes dans le même sens et dont les sens de circulation sont separés par une berme centrale. Son début est indiqué par le signal F5 et sa fin par le signal F7.

Hard shoulder

The hard shoulder is a lane reserved for broken-down vehicles on the motorway, located on the right-hand side of the carriageway and separated by a continuous white line. Driving, stopping or parking on it is forbidden, punishable as a third-degree offence with a loss of 5 points.

Access to the motorway

Access is prohibited for pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders, horse riders, horse-drawn vehicles, animal handlers, towing vehicles, agricultural vehicles and fairground convoys. Authorised vehicles must enter via the designated access points.

L'accès est interdit aux piétons, cyclistes, cyclomoteurs, cavaliers, véhicules attelés, conducteurs d'animaux, véhicules remorquant, véhicules agricoles et trains forains. Les véhicules autorisés doivent accéder par les endroits aménagés.

Speed limits

On the motorway, the minimum speed is 70 km/h and the maximum is 120 km/h. On the Brussels Ring, the limit is 100 km/h. Lower limits may be imposed near bends or road works.

Prohibitions on the motorway

It is forbidden to make a U-turn, drive the wrong way, reverse, tow a vehicle or use cross-connections (fourth-degree offences, -5 points). Also prohibited: processions, demonstrations, gatherings, advertising parades and sporting events.

Il est interdit de faire demi-tour, circuler à contre-sens, faire marche arrière, remorquer un véhicule, emprunter les raccords transversaux (infractions 4ème degré, -5 points). Sont aussi interdits: cortèges, manifestations, rassemblements, défilés publicitaires et épreuves sportives.

Position on the carriageway

Vehicles must keep as close as possible to the right-hand edge. In heavy traffic, motorcyclists may filter between the two left-hand lanes at a maximum of 50 km/h with a speed difference of no more than 20 km/h compared to the vehicles being passed.

Les véhicules doivent se tenir le plus près possible du bord droit. En cas de densité, les motards peuvent remonter les files entre les deux bandes de gauche à max 50 km/h avec une différence de vitesse de 20 km/h max avec les véhicules remontés.

Motorway driving requires particular attention and strict compliance with the established rules. These fast roads offer an efficient means of travel but also carry specific risks. A thorough knowledge of the rules and responsible driving are essential to ensure the safety of all road users.

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