Category B – Priority

Sign B1 – Priority road

The shape of the signs for the priority road and the end of the priority road is unique. In this way, these signs can also be recognised from the back, or if these signs are covered in snow. You then only have to consider whether the sign has been placed on the priority road or at the end of the priority road.

Within built-up areas, this sign is placed immediately before side roads leading from the priority road.
Outside built-up areas, this sign is always placed at the beginning of a road section (after a junction) because parking is not permitted on the carriageway of a priority road outside built-up areas.
The signs are placed before or after each side road, unless the distance to the next side road is less than 50 meters.

Het bord wordt niet toegepast in erven, op 30 en 60 kilometer per uur wegen en zones.

If you’re driving on a road with this sign, you’re on a priority road. This means you don’t have to yield to traffic coming from your left or right. However, having priority doesn’t always mean getting the right of way. So always pay close attention to traffic coming from your right and left.

If you want to follow a bending priority road, you must signal. In other words, if you can do more than go straight ahead, you must signal to show other traffic what you intend to do.
In the situation shown here, you signal as you would at a regular junction.

In the two situations shown here, indicate left if you want to continue on the bending priority road. If you want to leave the diverging priority road, indicate right. If you’re going straight ahead, indicating isn’t mandatory (you’re not turning), but it’s clearer for other road users if you signal right.

Sign B2 – End of priority road

The design of the priority road and end-of-priority road signs is unique. This means these signs can also be recognised from the back, or when snow is covered. You just need to consider whether the sign is for priority road or end of priority road.

A priority road can be terminated by placing this sign.
Once you pass this sign, the priority road ends, and you must once again yield to drivers approaching from the right, as well as to tram drivers approaching from the left or right.

A priority road can also end with sign B6, “Give priority to drivers on the intersecting road.” Another option is sign B7, “Stop; give priority to drivers on the intersecting road.”
A priority road usually ends at an intersection where priority must be given to crossing traffic, so signs B6 or B7 must be placed along the former priority road. Sign B2 is then omitted.

Sign B3 – Priority junction

This sign indicates a priority junction. It essentially has the same meaning as sign B1, but it doesn’t apply to the entire road; it only applies to the junction in question. The next junction may be a priority uncontrolled junction.
This sign is always placed in combination with signs B6, B7, and/or shark’s teeth on the intersecting road.

This sign is not used at junctions of cycle paths or cycle/moped paths. If it is desirable to regulate priority, simply placing shark teeth on the road surface is sufficient.

Sign B4 Priority junction side road left

Most people find this sign a bit strange, because it means that drivers coming from the left must yield to you. Now, many people think we’ve always had that. And they’re right. Only now, there’s a tram coming from the left; usually, you’re supposed to yield to it, but not in this case.

This sign indicates a priority junction. It essentially has the same meaning as sign B1, but it doesn’t apply to the entire road; but only to the junction in question. The next junction can be a priority uncontrolled junction.
This sign is always placed in combination with signs B6, B7, and/or shark’s teeth on the intersecting road.

This sign is not used at junctions of cycle paths or cycle/moped paths. If it’s desirable to regulate priority, simply placing sharks’ teeth on the road surface is sufficient.

Sign B5 – Priority junction side road right

At a priority uncontrolled junction, you usually must yield to all drivers approaching from the right. If this sign is displayed, drivers coming from the right at this junction must yield to you. This also applies to tram drivers.

This sign indicates a priority junction. Essentially the same meaning as sign B1, but it does not apply to the entire road, but only to the junction in question. The next junction may be a priority uncontrolled junction.
This sign is always displayed in combination with signs B6, B7, and/or shark’s teeth on the intersecting road.

This sign is not used at junctions of cycle paths or cycle/moped paths. If it is desirable to regulate priority, simply applying shark’s teeth to the road surface is sufficient.

Sign B6 – Give way to drivers on the intersecting road

The shape of this sign is unique. Therefore, it can also be recognised from the back, or if the sign is covered in snow.
If you approach a junction with this sign and no drivers are approaching on the intersecting road to whom you should yield the right of way, you do not need to stop first and then cross the junction.
You must yield the right-of-way to drivers on the intersecting road, not to pedestrians on the intersecting road.
If you want to turn right at a priority intersection, also look carefully to the right. Overtaking drivers may be driving in your lane here.

Keep an eye out for pedestrians crossing the road. Pedestrians sometimes assume they have the right of way. If your speed is too low, or if you have stopped to yield the right of way to another vehicle, they may suddenly cross the road.

Through your speed and approach, show drivers on the intersecting road that you do intend to yield the right of way—braking hard at the last moment and stopping just before the intersecting road is not considered yielding right of way.
When yielding the right of way, leave the junction clear.

On roads outside built-up areas, a warning sign is often placed. Sometimes with a warning triangle on the road surface. This triangle on the road surface has no legal significance in itself, but serves only as a warning.

Crossing traffic often travels faster here than at intersections of roads of the same order. Especially when turning left and thus, as it were, coming out AHEAD of the oncoming vehicle (i.e., crossing traffic), this means you need to be driving quite fast. So don’t hesitate, but know what you’re doing, carefully estimate how fast the car is approaching you, and be familiar with your own vehicle’s capabilities.

This sign is always placed in combination with shark’s teeth on the road surface. Shark’s teeth have the same meaning as this sign.
There are also situations where you are required to yield, but sign B6 is often not displayed. This is becauser:

• on unpaved roads, because drivers on an unpaved road must always give way to drivers on a paved road.
• At exits, drivers performing a special manoeuvre, including entering a road from an exit, must yield to other traffic. If the exit is not recognised as such by road users, it must be reconstructed.
• at junctions of cycle paths or cycle/moped paths, because priority can be regulated here using shark’s teeth on the road surface.
• on flowing entrances to autowegen and motorways, and at junctions between motorways, because merging from the slip road onto the main carriageway and changing lanes are considered special manoeuvres, meaning that other traffic must pass.
• on cycle paths, cycle/moped paths, and parallel roads, if the presence of the B6 sign could confuse other drivers, priority is then regulated using “shark teeth” markings on the path or parallel road (e.g., a mini roundabout).

Sign B7 – Stop; give way to drivers on intersecting road

The shape of this sign is unique. Therefore, it can also be recognised from the back, or if the sign is covered in snow.
If you approach a junction with this sign and there are no drivers approaching on the intersecting road to whom you should yield the right of way, you must still stop before proceeding. You must stop before the designated stop line.
You must yield the right of way to drivers on the intersecting road, not to pedestrians on the intersecting road.
If you want to turn right at a priority intersection, also look carefully to the right. Overtaking drivers may be driving in your lane.

Keep an eye out for pedestrians crossing the road. Pedestrians sometimes assume they have the right of way. If your speed is too low, or if you have stopped to yield the right of way to another vehicle, they may suddenly cross the road.

Through your speed and approach, show drivers on the intersecting road that you do intend to yield the right of way. Braking hard at the last moment and stopping just before the intersecting road is not considered yielding right of way.
When yielding right of way, leave the intersection clear.

Crossing traffic often travels faster here than at intersections of roads of the same order. Especially when turning left and thus, as it were, coming out AHEAD of the oncoming vehicle (crossing traffic), this means you need to be driving quite fast. So don’t hesitate, but know what you’re doing, accurately estimate how fast the car will reach you, and be familiar with your own vehicle’s capabilities.

On roads outside built-up areas, a pre-warning sign is often placed. Only sign B6 is used for this. A supplementary sign then shows the distance to the intersection and, if necessary, the word “stop.”
A pre-warning sign can be supported by a warning triangle or the word “stop” on the road surface. These two images on the road surface have no legal significance in themselves, but serve only as a warning.