Definitions from article 1 RVV
| What the law says | Why it matters | What you do | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver / rider | Art. 1: all road users except pedestrians. A cyclist is therefore a driver. | Confusing “bestuurder” with “motorist”. Every rule addressing “bestuurders” also binds the cyclist and the horse rider. | With every rule first establish whether it says “bestuurder” or “weggebruiker” — that decides whether the cyclist is included. |
| Road user | Art. 1: pedestrians, cyclists, moped riders, drivers of a disabled person's vehicle, a motor vehicle or a tram, horse riders, animal handlers and cart drivers. The widest circle. | Thinking “road user” and “driver” are the same. The pedestrian is the first and not the second — and that decides whom a rule binds. | With “weggebruikers” think of pedestrians too — the rule is then broader than traffic on the carriageway. |
| Giving way | Art. 1: enabling the drivers concerned to continue their way UNHINDERED. Not “waiting a bit”, but: they need change neither speed nor direction. | Thinking you gave way as long as there was no collision. If the other had to brake or swerve, you did not. | Distinguish whether you must WAIT or merely must not OBSTRUCT — the difference decides whether you may go on. |
| Junction | Art. 1: a crossing OR FORK of roads. A T-junction is therefore a junction too, and all junction rules apply there. | Seeing only a cross as a junction. At a T-fork, priority from the right, the five-metre parking ban and the stopping ban apply just as much. | Establish whether it is a junction before applying the priority-to-the-right rule — at a driveway art. 54 applies. |
| Parking | Art. 1: standing longer than needed for the IMMEDIATE boarding or alighting of passengers or immediate loading or unloading. | Thinking it is about minutes. It is about the PURPOSE: loading or boarding is not parking, waiting for someone is — however briefly. | At a sign check whether it concerns standing or parking — loading and unloading falls under the first. |
| Vehicle | Art. 1: bicycles, mopeds, disabled persons' vehicles, motor vehicles, trams and carts. The bicycle is listed first. | Ignoring the difference from “motor vehicle”. A rule about “voertuig” reaches the cyclist, one about “motorrijtuig” does not — that is what separates 0.5‰ from 0.2‰. | With a rule about “motorvoertuigen” check whether your vehicle falls under it — moped and light moped are separate categories. |
The law itself
- RVV1990 art. 1
«bestuurders: alle weggebruikers behalve voetgangers»
- RVV1990 art. 1 (weggebruikers)
«weggebruikers: voetgangers, fietsers, bromfietsers, bestuurders van een gehandicaptenvoertuig, van een motorvoertuig of van een tram, ruiters, geleiders van rij- of trekdieren of vee en bestuurders van een bespannen of onbespannen wagen»
- RVV1990 art. 1 (voorrang verlenen)
«voorrang verlenen: het de betrokken bestuurders in staat stellen ongehinderd hun weg te vervolgen»
- RVV1990 art. 1 (kruispunt)
«kruispunt: kruising of splitsing van wegen»
- RVV1990 art. 1 (parkeren)
«parkeren: het laten stilstaan van een voertuig anders dan gedurende de tijd die nodig is voor en gebruikt wordt tot het onmiddellijk in- of uitstappen van passagiers of voor het onmiddellijk laden of lossen van goederen»
- RVV1990 art. 1 (voertuigen)
«voertuigen: fietsen, bromfietsen, gehandicaptenvoertuigen, motorvoertuigen, trams en wagens»
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