On the motorway, may I keep driving in the middle or left lane when the right lane is free?
In short
As a rule, no. On the motorway, unless traffic is dense, you keep as far right as possible. After overtaking, you move back to the right as soon as it is safe. Not doing so is a 2nd-degree offence (€128); not keeping right in general is 1st degree (€64).
Video transcript
The motorway has three lanes. You are driving in the middle one; the right lane is completely empty. I'm fine here, you think. Not allowed: On the motorway too, you keep as far right as possible: in the rightmost free lane. The middle lane is not a 'cruising lane'. The right way: To overtake, move to the left. Then signal and move back to the right as soon as it is safe. In dense traffic, you may stay in your lane. Fine notice: Not moving back right: 128 €; Not keeping right: 64 €; Speeding up when passed: 191 €.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Drive as close as possible to the right-hand edge of the carriageway (Traffic Regulations art. 9.3.1). On a road with several lanes, that means the rightmost free lane; the middle lane is not a 'cruising lane'.
- After overtaking on the left, signal and move back to the right as soon as you can do so safely (art. 16.6).
- Exception: on one-way carriageways (motorways included) and on two-way carriageways with four or more lanes, you do not have to move back right if you want to overtake again straight away (art. 16.6). On a two-way carriageway this applies only if you use just the lanes for your own direction.
- Exception: when traffic is dense, vehicles may drive in several lines (art. 9.5). You may then stay in your lane; if the right lane moves faster, that is not overtaking (art. 16.2).
- Exception: in built-up areas, on one-way carriageways with several lanes and on two-way carriageways with at least two lanes in each direction, you may choose the lane that best suits your destination (art. 9.4).
- After following the F13 and F15 lane signs, you move back to the right as soon as circumstances allow (art. 9.3.1). When someone overtakes you on the left, keep as far right as possible and do not speed up (art. 16.7).
- Buses, coaches and vehicles or combinations with a maximum authorised mass of more than 3.5 tonnes may use only the two right-hand lanes on a motorway with three or more lanes in the direction of travel (art. 21.3). Following the F13 and F15 lane signs is the exception.
- Driving on the hard shoulder is not allowed (art. 9.7). Exceptions: priority vehicles on an urgent mission; people and services called by the public prosecutor or the police, and tow trucks, but only to get to the incident when traffic is moving very slowly or has stopped.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- Not moving back to the right after overtaking is a 2nd-degree offence: on-the-spot fine €128. Not keeping as far right as possible in general is 1st degree: €64. Speeding up or not moving right when being overtaken, and driving on the hard shoulder, is 3rd degree: €191. Not following the lane rule for heavy vehicles is 2nd degree: €128.
Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, 13°/2 (Justel)KB 30.9.2005, art. 2-4 + Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2 (Justel)
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence. The police court can impose a fine of about €100 – €2,500 for the 1st degree, €200 – €2,500 for the 2nd degree and €300 – €5,000 for the 3rd degree.
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel)Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §1 (Justel)
What does this level mean? Traffic offence, degree 2: On-the-spot payment €128; in court €200 – €2,500; the court may suspend the licence for 8 days – 5 years. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- For a 2nd- or 3rd-degree offence, the judge can impose a driving ban of 8 days to 5 years
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §1, 3° (Justel)
- If you have held a B licence for less than 2 years, a 3rd-degree offence (driving on the hard shoulder, speeding up when being overtaken) means a compulsory driving ban
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel)
- A car that stays in the middle lane tempts others to overtake on the right; overtaking on the right is also a 2nd-degree offence
Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, 13° (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.
- Police court
- The court for traffic offences and appeals against GAS fines. Despite the name, it is not part of the police; an independent judge decides.
Why does this rule exist?
A car lingering in the middle lane reduces the road's capacity. Drivers behind it have to move two lanes to the left to pass, or are tempted to pass on the right. That leads to dangerous lane changes.
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
- 22 / 23 statements in an official source
- Checked: 02.11.2026
- Last checked
- 30.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 23 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Sürücü mümkün olduğunca sağ kenara yakın gider
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 9.3.1 lid 1 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Soldan solladıktan sonra sinyal verip sağa dönmek
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 16.6 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Hemen yeniden sollayacaksa tek yönlü ve 4+ şeritli çift yönlü yollarda sağa dönmek gerekmez
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 16.6 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yoğun trafikte birden fazla sırada gidilebilir
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 9.5 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yoğun trafikte bir şeridin daha hızlı akması sollama sayılmaz
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 16.2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Çift yönlü yolda şart: yalnız kendi yönünün şeritlerini kullanmak
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 16.6 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yerleşim yeri içinde hedefe uygun şerit seçimi
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 9.4 (Justel) - Found in an official source
F13/F15'ten sonra koşullar izin verince sağa dönmek
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 9.3.1 lid 2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sollanan sürücü sağa yanaşır, hızlanamaz
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 16.7 (Justel) - Found in an official source
3+ şeritli otoyolda otobüs, otokar ve 3,5 t üstü araçlar yalnız sağdaki iki şeritte
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, 16°/1 (tekst van art. 21.3 Verkeersreglement) (Justel) - Found in an official source
Emniyet şeridinde gitmek yasak; öncelikli araçlar, çağrılan kişiler/servisler ve çekiciler hariç
Verkeersreglement (KB 1.12.1975), art. 9.7 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 16.6 ihlali 2. derece (8.5.2019 tarihli kanunla, 1.7.2019'dan beri)
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, 13°/2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 9.3.1 2./3./4. derece listelerinde yok → 1. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2-4 + Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Art. 16.7 3. derece; art. 9.7 3. derece; art. 21.3 2. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2 ve 3 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Anında ödeme 1.7.2026'dan beri: 1. derece 64 €, 2. derece 128 €, 3. derece 191 €
KB 22.6.2026 tot wijziging van het KB van 19.4.2014 (onmiddellijke inning), BS 26.6.2026 - Found in an official source
2. derece mahkeme para cezası kanunda 160–2.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel) - Found in an official source
1. derece mahkeme para cezası kanunda 80–2.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 (Justel) - Found in an official source
3. derece mahkeme para cezası kanunda 240–4.000 €
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 §1 (Justel) - Reliable secondary source
Mahkeme cezaları için ×1,25 çevrimi (yaklaşık 100–2.500 €, 200–2.500 €, 300–5.000 €); diğer trafik kartlarıyla aynı yöntem
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 29 + ek ondalık kuralı - Found in an official source
2. ve 3. derece ihlalde hâkim 8 gün – 5 yıl ehliyetten men verebilir
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §1, 3° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Ehliyeti (B) 2 yıldan yeni olana men zorunlu
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Sağdan sollamak 2. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 2, 13° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Düzeltme (Kasım 2026 doğrulaması): Emniyet şeridi yasak; öncelikli araçlar, çağrılan kişiler, çekiciler hariç
Verkeersreglement art. 9.7 (Justel)
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?