Category F – Other commandments and prohibitions

Sign F1 – Prohibition for motor vehicles to overtake each other.

Once you pass this sign, overtaking other motor vehicles is prohibited. This means you are also not permitted to overtake a tractor, brommobiel, or motorcycle. And vice versa.
This sign is usually placed in places where overtaking is not possible, for example, due to a narrow road or in areas where overtaking could lead to dangerous situations.

A prohibition on motor vehicles overtaking each other often indicates a change in the road (or its surroundings). Look far ahead to detect this change in time. This could be roadworks, a sharp, blind bend, or a narrowing or split in the carriageway.
Despite a prohibition on overtaking, some drivers in a hurry sometimes ignore it. Be aware of this.
If the carriageway is wider than 5 meters, the sign is also placed on the left side of the carriageway.
A bottom plate may permit overtaking of agricultural vehicles or brommobielen.

Sign F2 – End of prohibition for motor vehicles to overtake each other.

From this sign, overtaking is permitted again.
Please note that many drivers will usually try to do so immediately. Some drivers will even overtake before passing the sign.

Sign F3 – Prohibition on lorries overtaking motor vehicles.

After passing this sign, lorries are not allowed to overtake motor vehicles. Lorries are therefore not allowed to overtake passenger cars, tractors, brommobielen, or motorcycles, among others.
This sign is often placed in places where slower lorries can hold up other traffic.
Autobuses, motorcycles, and passenger cars are allowed to overtake other motor vehicles when this sign is in place.

On motorways, a bottom plate is often placed with a time period for the ban, for example, from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. These times were deliberately chosen to relieve the pressure on busy rush-hour traffic. During these times, lorries are not allowed to overtake. Outside these times, they are.
This sign also appears on slopes.

Sign F4 – End of the ban on lorries overtaking motor vehicles.

When this sign is displayed, lorries are permitted to overtake motor vehicles.

Please note that in a line of lorries, there may always be one or more lorry drivers who immediately want to overtake slower lorries. This may cause your speed to be lower than you are used to.
You will also encounter this sign on downhill sections after a hill.

Sign F5 – Prohibition for drivers to proceed when approaching traffic from the opposite direction.

If you encounter this sign as a driver and oncoming traffic is approaching, you must yield to it. If a pedestrian approaches this sign, they don’t have to yield to drivers coming from the opposite direction. Because… a pedestrian is not a driver, and this sign only applies to drivers. And as a driver, you must yield to all traffic; a pedestrian is traffic. So, pedestrians have priority in every respect.

This sign is often found at road narrowings, roadworks, and narrow bridges. On the other side of the narrowing, you’ll find the following sign: F6.
At roadworks, this sign is usually placed on the side where traffic is supposed to enter the oncoming lane.

Most people look at this sign and at sign F6 by the colour of the arrows. But what should you look at if it has snowed and the colour of the arrows is no longer visible? Just brush away the snow? It’s more helpful to look at the shape of the sign. With the round sign, you must yield to everyone. At the square sign, you may proceed, unless pedestrians are approaching from the other side. In that case, you must yield to pedestrians.

Sign F6 – Drivers from opposite directions must give way to traffic approaching from this direction.

When approaching a narrowing with this sign on this side, you may proceed, unless pedestrians are approaching from the other side. In that case, you must yield to pedestrians.

This sign is often found at road narrowings, roadworks, and narrow bridges. On the other side of the narrowing is the previous sign: F5.
During roadworks, this sign is usually placed on the side where traffic does not have to enter the oncoming lane.

Most people look at the color of the arrows for this sign and for sign F5. But what should you look for if it has snowed and the color of the arrows is no longer visible? Need to clear the snow? It’s more helpful to look at the shape of the sign. With the round sign, you must yield to everyone.
With the square sign, you may proceed, unless pedestrians are approaching from the other side. In that case, you must yield to pedestrians.

Sign F7 – U-turn prohibition.

Turning is prohibited at this sign. However, turning left is permitted.
Please be aware of the reason for this sign’s placement. Drivers drive quite fast here. Drivers who are not familiar with the area sometimes drive the wrong way and try to turn around. This is prohibited by the sign, but it does happen.

In deviation from standard placement, this sign is placed on the left side of the road. Additional signs can apply to certain vehicle categories, or certain categories can be exempted.

Sign F8 – End of all prohibitions indicated by traffic signs.

This sign signals the end of all prohibitions indicated by traffic signs. You often see this sign after roadworks. During roadworks, a lower speed limit and a no-passing policy often apply. To avoid having to install two signs, this sign is placed. After this sign, the normal speed limit applies again.

Please note: after a speed limit (and no-passing)… hurried drivers will already be accelerating well before this sign. So, when overtaking, pay close attention to the traffic behind you.

Sign F9 – End of all prohibitions indicated on an electronic signaling board.

Sign F10 – Stop. The sign can indicate who or why the sign is being used.

This sign indicates that you must stop.

You used to come across this sign at the border posts. Since the abolition of land borders within the European Community, this sign is no longer placed within the EU.

If an attendant of a rail vehicle shows a stop sign with this sign, a red flag, or a red lamp, road users are obliged to stop.

Traffic officers, our dedicated guardians of road safety, also carry these signs at crossings, including those near schools. When a traffic sergeant holds up a sign like this, it’s a clear signal for you to stop, ensuring your safety and that of others.

When performing their duties, traffic sergeants must at least be equipped with:

• an orange fluorescent jacket or vest and
•  a stop sign using this sign.

The stop sign comes in two versions:

• as a stop sign held up by hand.
• as a stop sign that is part of a rotating arm system.

Do not confuse the meaning of this sign with sign B7. If sign B7 has been placed, you may continue driving if you have come to a complete stop and there is no traffic approaching. You must wait at this sign until it indicates that you can continue driving.

Sign F11 – Mandatory use of passing lane or passing carriageway (lane or carriageway for overtaking), exclusively intended for agricultural and forestry tractors, motor vehicles with limited speed, and mobile machines.

Sign F12 – End of mandatory use of passing lane or passing carriageway (lane or carriageway for overtaking), exclusively intended for agricultural and forestry tractors, motor vehicles with limited speed, and mobile machines.

Sign F13 – Carriageway or lane exclusively for scheduled buses.

Sign F14 – End of carriageway or lane exclusively for scheduled buses.

Sign F15 – Carriageway or lane exclusively for trams.

Sign F16 – End of carriageway or lane exclusively for trams.

Sign F17 – Carriageway or lane exclusively for scheduled buses and trams.

Sign F18 – End of carriageway or lane exclusively for scheduled buses and trams.

Sign F19 – Carriageway or lane exclusively for trucks and scheduled buses.

Sign F20 – End of carriageway or lane exclusively for trucks and scheduled buses.

Sign F21 – Carriageway or lane exclusively for lorries.

Sign F22 – End of carriageway or lane exclusively for lorries.