Move to reform priority to right rule

30 November 2004

BRUSSELS – The Belgian government is at last planning to modify the country’s controversial priority to the right driving rule, which has seen many an unsuspecting expat driver involved in an annoying traffic crunch.

Belgium is the only country in Europe to still have priority to the right, a traffic rule that obliges drivers on a main thoroughfare to give way to traffic coming out of a right hand side road.

Non-Belgian motorists have long cursed the rule, saying it is ridiculous and simply serves to increase the number of road traffic accidents in Belgian cities.

But until now, the Belgian authorities have stubbornly refused to repeal it.

However it was reported on Tuesday that the government has put forward plans to modify the way the system works.

Under the planned change, a driver on a main road would still have the right of way even if he or she slowed down when approaching a crossroads.
This means any drivers on a side road would not have the right – as they do at the moment – to pull out in front of the slowing car.

The Belgian Road Safety Institute (IBSR) says it backs the planned change, arguing it should lead to fewer accidents.

Subject: Belgian news