Rescue/Emergency Lane is also MANDATORY in Belgium

Until now, there was no law in Belgium that road users must make room for ambulances in the event of traffic jams on multi-lane roads. This is will change from October.

Brussels; the creation of a rescue lane in the event of a traffic jam on a road with two or more lanes becomes mandatory in Belgium. A majority of the Belgian Parliament has now approved a corresponding bill. The new scheme will enter into force on 1 October 2020

In the event of a traffic jam, the vehicles on the left lane must turn as far to the left as possible, the vehicles on the right lanes as far as possible to the right.

In the case of multi-lane directional lanes, like dual carriageway and motorway, the following applies vehicles on the left lane to the left, all others to the right. The hard shoulder must remain free.

What many people do not know, however, is that they already have to form the emergency lane when vehicles on motorways or multi-lane out-of-town roads only drive at a walking pace (4-5 kmph).

Also, anyone who reaches the end of a traffic jam on a directional lane warns subsequent drivers with the warning flashing system.

Rescue/Emergency Lane is MANDATORY in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovenia, and Switzerland.

The non-structure of the emergency lane is punished with an administrative penalty up to 726 euros, illegal driving of the emergency lane an administrative penalty of up to 726 euros, vehicles that block or obstruction the ambulance, police, road or breakdown service an administrative penalty of up to 2,180 euros.

Other EU Member States countries, there is no obligation to create a rescue lane. However, emergency vehicles must still be given the opportunity to pass other vehicles.