With the holiday season and numerous sporting events approaching, questions often arise about what is and is not permitted on the roads. On Tuesday morning, lawyer Jean-Jacques Schonckert outlined some of the most important rules.
Bus lanes are generally reserved for public transport, meaning that they are primarily intended for buses. Taxis are also usually allowed to use them.
The situation is different for private hire drivers, such as Uber drivers. They may only use bus lanes if they have specific authorisation, and the rules can vary from one municipality to another.
Emergency services, including the police, ambulances and the fire brigade, may also use bus lanes while responding to an incident, even without blue lights, provided they are on official duty.
Cyclists are permitted to use certain bus lanes, but this must be explicitly indicated by the signs alongside the lane.
During major sporting events, flags are increasingly seen attached to cars. This is generally permitted, provided they do not extend beyond the vehicle or endanger other road users.
The rules on using the horn are stricter. Under the law, drivers may only sound their horn when there is an immediate danger. Honking simply to celebrate or express excitement is therefore not permitted.
