In a traffic jam, can I filter between the cars on my motorbike, and can I use the hard shoulder?
In short
Under certain conditions. You may filter between stationary or slow-moving vehicles at no more than 50 km/h and no more than 20 km/h faster than them. Riding on the hard shoulder is forbidden.
Video transcript
Traffic has stopped on the motorway. You're waiting on your motorbike; the hard shoulder on the right is empty. It depends: You may pass between stopped cars at no more than 50 km/h, and no more than 20 km/h faster than them. The hard shoulder is forbidden. The right way: On the motorway, only pass slowly between the two left-hand lanes. If you hear a siren, make way at once. Consequences: Riding on hard shoulder: 191 € + 10,67 €; In court (3rd degree): 300 € – 5.000 €; Possible driving ban: 8 days – 5 years.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- On a motorbike, you may ride between two lanes or two queues of vehicles that are stationary or moving slowly. This does not count as overtaking (inhalen / dépassement). Only motorbikes may do this.
- When filtering, do not go faster than 50 km/h, or more than 20 km/h faster than the vehicles next to you.
- On a motorway or an expressway (autoweg / route pour automobiles), only filter between the two lanes furthest to the left.
- Riding on the hard shoulder (pechstrook / bande d'arrêt d'urgence) is also forbidden for motorbikes. Only vehicles on an emergency call, services that have been called out and breakdown trucks may use it.
- At present, motorbikes may not use the emergency corridor (reddingsstrook / corridor de secours). If you hear a siren, make way immediately.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Riding on the hard shoulder is a 3rd-degree offence: on-the-spot fine 191 € (+10,67 € administrative costs). If you do not keep to the speed and lane conditions, the penalty depends on the degree of the offence.
Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 3°/1 (Justel)wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. In court, a 3rd-degree offence can lead to a fine of 300 € – 5.000 €; a driving ban of 8 days to 5 years is also possible.
Legal basis:wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- Using the emergency corridor to get ahead is also punishable.
Legal basis:KB 1.12.1975, art. 2.70 (reddingsstrook) en 9.8 (Justel)
- If you go over the speed limit, you can also get a speeding fine.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §3 (Justel)
- If you are convicted again within three years, the fine in court is doubled.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §4 (Justel)
What do these terms mean?
- On-the-spot payment
- A fixed amount offered by the police. If you pay, the case is closed and does not go to court. If not, the prosecutor takes over; the amount can rise and the case can go to court.
Why does this rule exist?
In heavy traffic, motorbikes filtering slowly between the cars shorten the queue. The speed limits reduce the risk of hitting a car that suddenly changes lanes. The hard shoulder is for ambulances, the police and broken-down vehicles.
Where can you go?
- Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
- Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 14 / 14 statements in an official source
- Checked: 23.10.2026
- Last checked
- 23.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Motosikletin iki şerit/kuyruk arasından hızlı gitmesi sollama sayılmaz; yalnız motosiklet
KB 1.12.1975 art. 16.2bis (Justel) - Found in an official source
En fazla 50 km/s
KB 1.12.1975 art. 16.2bis (Justel) - Found in an official source
Hız farkı en fazla 20 km/s
KB 1.12.1975 art. 16.2bis (Justel) - Found in an official source
Otoyol ve ekspres yolda en soldaki iki şerit arası
KB 1.12.1975 art. 16.2bis (Justel) - Found in an official source
Emniyet şeridinde sürmek yasak; istisnalar acil araç, çağrılan servis, çekici
KB 1.12.1975 art. 9.7 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Kurtarma koridorunu bugün yalnız acil araçlar, çağrılan servisler ve çekiciler kullanır (motosiklet yok)
KB 1.12.1975, art. 2.70 (reddingsstrook) en 9.8 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Siren duyunca hemen yol açmak
KB 1.12.1975 art. 38 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Emniyet şeridi (9.7) 3. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 3°/1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
3. derece anında ödeme 191 € + 10,67 €
wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad (derece ve anında ödeme tutarları Justel KB 30.9.2005 ve KB 19.4.2014 ile karşılaştırıldı, 16.10.2026; 10,67 €, uzlaşma ve mahkeme tutarları bekliyor) - Found in an official source
3. derece mahkeme 300–5.000 €; 8 gün–5 yıl men mümkün
wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad (derece ve anında ödeme tutarları Justel KB 30.9.2005 ve KB 19.4.2014 ile karşılaştırıldı, 16.10.2026; 10,67 €, uzlaşma ve mahkeme tutarları bekliyor) - Found in an official source
Koridoru kullanarak ilerlemek yasak (yalnız sayılan araçlar)
KB 1.12.1975, art. 2.70 (reddingsstrook) en 9.8 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Tekrar halinde mahkeme cezası iki kat
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §4 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Hız sınırını aşmak ayrı bir suçtur (seviye 1)
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Emniyet şeridinde sürme yasağının yalnız üç istisnası var (acil araç, çağrılan kişi/servis, çekici)
KB 1.12.1975, art. 9.7
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?