Priority Vehicles in Belgium: Rules, Conduct and Safety

Legislation, guidance and technical explanations – everything you need to know about professional vehicle signaling.

In Belgium, a vehicle is considered a priority vehicle only when it is equipped with one or more blue flashing lights and a special audible warning signal (siren). Road users are legally required to give way and grant priority only when both signals are activated simultaneously.


Direct Answer: How Should You React?

When a priority vehicle approaches with siren and flashing lights, you must immediately clear the way. The three golden rules are:


  1. Locate & Stay Calm: Determine where the vehicle is coming from using your mirrors and hearing.
  2. Make Space (Without Panic): Move to the right and use your indicators. Do not brake abruptly.
  3. Respect the Highway Code: You may not violate traffic regulations (such as running a red light) to make room, unless explicitly directed by the police.

Tactical Instructions: How to Act in Specific Situations

Red Traffic Light

You may not simply ignore a red light. Try to create space by moving slightly forward or sideways, within safe limits.

Roundabout

Continue driving around the roundabout until the priority vehicle has taken its exit. Only leave the roundabout afterward toward your intended destination.


Heavy Traffic

Form an emergency corridor (mandatory since 2020). Ensure emergency services can pass as smoothly as possible.

Special Lanes

Always keep bus lanes and special traversable tracks (BOB lanes) clear. Priority services may use them when necessary.

Rights and Limitations of Emergency Services (During Urgent Missions)

Exceed speed limits.

The speed must always remain appropriate to the traffic conditions.

Drive through a red light.

Only after coming to a complete stop and ensuring safety.

Use special lanes.

In urban areas, this is often the fastest way to bypass congestion.

Ignore stop signs and yield signs.

A priority vehicle only has right of way when other road users are able to grant it safely.

Drive against traffic without strict necessity.

This is permitted only when no reasonable alternative route is available to reach the destination in time.

Drive unnecessarily on sidewalks or cycle paths.

Sidewalks and cycle paths are considered protected zones for vulnerable road users.