New priority rules on country's roads
 

..of course, the easy option would be to use some white paint.....

http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flandersnews.be/News/070227_priority

New priority rules on country's roads

Tue 27/02/07 - The rules governing priority for vehicles coming from
the right will change from this Thursday. From 1 March drivers on
Belgian roads will have to give priority to those joining a road from
the right, even if they have stopped at a road junction.
The Federal Transport Minister Renaat Landuyt (Flemish socialist) told
journalists that the new rules are clearer and simpler.
(Belga)
He added that they should also reduce the number of accidents at road
junctions and as well as serving to cut the number of arguments about
who was responsible when accidents do occur.

At present, drivers in Belgium lose their priority, if they stop at a
junction, a situation that is unique in Europe.

The current rules have been the cause of many accidents, especially on
roads near to our borders, as well as endless discussion as to who is
responsible when accidents occur.

Currently, around 70% of legal disputes about who is responsible for
having caused an accident centre on the priority rules.

Drivers will also keep their priority, if they have to cross a
footpath or cycle lane when joining a road from the right.

However, they must grant right of way to any pedestrians or cyclists
that might be on the footpath or cycle lane.

Exceptions to the new rules include roundabouts and drivers trying to
joining a road after having driven down a one way street in the wrong
direction.

The motoring associations VAB and Touring have both expressed their
enthusiasm about the rule change.

Re: New priority rules on country's roads
 

I had to read this twice before I figured it out.. ok, up till now, if
you shot out of a sideroad from the right, you had priority, but if you
stopped first, you didn't. Now, you have priority whether you stop or not.

Priorité a la droite is something drivers coming outside mainland
Europe should know about. A lot of Anglophones believe that this
traffic rule only exists in France, which is quite incorrect. My local
neighbourhood has several road junctions with priority from the right.
Traffic planners believe that the rule forces drivers to drive more
carefully in residential areas. Our local council recently converted a
junction with a regular giveway sign to a PFTR junction, which resulted
in a large number of accidents and many protests, and were forced to
change it back again.

T.


Besmet Kalkoen schrieb:
> ..of course, the easy option would be to use some white paint.....
>
> http://www.flandersnews.be/cm/flande...70227_priority
>
> New priority rules on country's roads
>
> Tue 27/02/07 - The rules governing priority for vehicles coming from
> the right will change from this Thursday. From 1 March drivers on
> Belgian roads will have to give priority to those joining a road from
> the right, even if they have stopped at a road junction.
> The Federal Transport Minister Renaat Landuyt (Flemish socialist) told
> journalists that the new rules are clearer and simpler.
> (Belga)
> He added that they should also reduce the number of accidents at road
> junctions and as well as serving to cut the number of arguments about
> who was responsible when accidents do occur.
>
> At present, drivers in Belgium lose their priority, if they stop at a
> junction, a situation that is unique in Europe.
>
> The current rules have been the cause of many accidents, especially on
> roads near to our borders, as well as endless discussion as to who is
> responsible when accidents occur.
>
> Currently, around 70% of legal disputes about who is responsible for
> having caused an accident centre on the priority rules.
>
> Drivers will also keep their priority, if they have to cross a
> footpath or cycle lane when joining a road from the right.
>
> However, they must grant right of way to any pedestrians or cyclists
> that might be on the footpath or cycle lane.
>
> Exceptions to the new rules include roundabouts and drivers trying to
> joining a road after having driven down a one way street in the wrong
> direction.
>
> The motoring associations VAB and Touring have both expressed their
> enthusiasm about the rule change.
>

Re: New priority rules on country's roads
 

Tom wrote on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:19:23 +0100:

TP> Priorité a la droite is something drivers coming outside
TP> mainland Europe should know about.

Technically, priority to the right applies at unmarked
intersections on country roads in Maryland. However, given the
probability of disputes and accidents you seldom see anything
but stop signs. Fourway stiops actually work very well.

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations:
not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

Re: New priority rules on country's roads
 

James Silverton schrieb:
> Tom wrote on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 20:19:23 +0100:
>
> TP> Priorité a la droite is something drivers coming outside
> TP> mainland Europe should know about.
>
> Technically, priority to the right applies at unmarked intersections on
> country roads in Maryland. However, given the probability of disputes
> and accidents you seldom see anything but stop signs. Fourway stiops
> actually work very well.
>
> James Silverton
> Potomac, Maryland
>
> E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

Fourway stopsigns do not exist in Europe. And like said, we DO have
unmarked junctions, and priority to the right is not a technicality when
someone hits you and sues for damages.
My personal reasons for emphasising this point are that several years
ago I was witness to an accident in the Netherlands at an unmarked
intersection resulting in serious injuries. About 3 years ago I was
involved myself in an accident wher the priority was disputed - it was
an intersection with a traffic light that was out of operation, and the
other traffic signs were obscured by trees.

T.