Do I have to stop at a pedestrian crossing if the pedestrian has not stepped onto the road yet?
In short
Yes. At a pedestrian crossing, you must also give way to a pedestrian who is about to cross. Not giving way to a pedestrian is a 3rd-degree offence.
Video transcript
A pedestrian is waiting at the edge of the crossing. They have not stepped onto the road yet. Required: You must also give way to a pedestrian about to cross. Driving on without stopping is an offence. The right way: Slow down and stop before the crossing. Never overtake a car stopped at a crossing. Fine notice (3rd-degree offence): Immediate payment: 191 € + 10,67 € costs; At court: 300 € – 5.000 €; Driving ban: 8 days – 5 years.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Give way to pedestrians on the crossing and to those about to cross.
- Do not overtake a vehicle that slows down or stops before a crossing; there may be a pedestrian in front of it.
- Do not park on the crossing or within 5 m before it, and do not block the crossing when you are waiting in traffic.
- Pedestrians must follow the rules too: if there is a crossing within 20 m, they must use it, and at a crossing with lights they may only cross on green (crossing on red is 1st degree, 64 €).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- 191 € (+ 10,67 € administrative fee)
Legal basis:KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 27° (Justel)wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad
- Court / prison
- At the police court: a fine of 300 € – 5.000 € (surcharge multipliers included) and a driving ban of 8 days – 5 years (compulsory if you have had your licence for less than 2 years).
Legal basis:wegcode.be – Overtredingen per graad
What does this level mean? Traffic offence, degree 3: On-the-spot payment €191; in court €300 – €5,000; the court may suspend the licence for 8 days – 5 years. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- If a pedestrian is injured in an accident, as a rule your vehicle's compulsory insurance pays for the pedestrian's losses, regardless of fault.
Legal basis:WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 29bis §1
- If you have had your licence for less than 2 years, the court must give you a driving ban
Legal basis:Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel)
- Causing death in traffic is a separate crime and can lead to prison; ask a lawyer about the level
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 107
What do these terms mean?
- 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?
Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users. A driver who overtakes a car stopped at a crossing sees the child who steps out in front of it only at the last moment.
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
- 11 / 11 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 11 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Geçitteki ve geçmek üzere olan yayaya yol ver
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 40.4.2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
3. derece
KB 30.9.2005, art. 3, 27° (Justel) - Found in an official source
Geçitte duran aracı sollama
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 17.2.5° (KB art. 3, 10°) (Justel) - Found in an official source
Geçide ve 5 m önüne park etme; geçidi kapatma
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 24, 4° ve 40.5 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yaya 20 m içinde geçidi kullanır; ışıkta yalnız yeşilde
KB 1 december 1975 (Verkeersreglement), art. 42.4.1–42.4.2 (Justel) - Found in an official source
Yayanın kırmızıda geçmesi 1. derece, 64 €
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
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
300–5.000 €, 8 gün–5 yıl men
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
Yeni sürücüde men zorunlu
Wegverkeerswet 16.3.1968, art. 38 §5 (Justel) - Corrected according to the source
Yayanın (sürücü olmayan) yaralanma/ölüm zararını motorlu aracın sigortası kusura bakmadan öder; maddi hasar hariç (kıyafet dahil)
WAM-wet 21.11.1989, art. 29bis §1 - Found in an official source
Trafikte ölüme sebebiyet ayrı suç: seviye 3 (3–5 yıl hapis)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 107
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?