Theory Mastery

Instructions rank highest in the hierarchy

Instructions from authorised persons — police, traffic controllers, crossing guards — sit at the top of the hierarchy: they override traffic lights, traffic signs and traffic rules. If an officer waves you on while the light for the other road is green, you follow the officer.

Source: RVV 1990 art. 62 · checked 2026-10-23

How the exam asks it

About The precedence order: who wins when signs disagree?: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Road markings are legally their own category of traffic signs, alongside signs and lights, with the same binding status.
  2. Traffic signs outrank traffic rules, insofar as those rules are incompatible with the signs.
  3. Instructions from a traffic controller only apply during an accident or emergency.
  4. Traffic lights outrank traffic signs that regulate priority, not the other way round.
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Correct answer: Instructions from a traffic controller only apply during an accident or emergency.

The duty to follow instructions applies generally to authorised and identifiable officials AND traffic controllers, with no limitation to accidents. A traffic controller at an event holds the same status

Why learners get this wrong: A solid line on the road surface is just paint, not a real traffic sign.

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The duty to follow instructions applies generally to authorised and identifiable officials AND traffic controllers, with no limitation to accidents.

  1. False
  2. True
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Correct answer: True

The duty to follow instructions applies generally to authorised and identifiable officials AND traffic controllers, with no limitation to accidents. A traffic controller at an event holds the same status

Why learners get this wrong: Instructions from a traffic controller only apply during an accident or emergency.

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At roadworks on the Leeuwarden ring road a traffic controller is waving, while the permanent priority sign at the junction is still simply hanging there. Who governs priority here?

  1. The priority sign — a permanent sign outranks a temporary instruction
  2. The traffic controller — instructions outrank traffic signs
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Correct answer: The traffic controller — instructions outrank traffic signs

Instructions outrank traffic signs, regardless of how permanent the sign feels.

Why learners get this wrong: A traffic sign always outranks a working traffic light.

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Traffic lights outrank traffic signs that regulate priority, not the other way round.

  1. False
  2. True
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Correct answer: True

Traffic lights outrank traffic signs that regulate priority, not the other way round. As long as the light works, the light governs

Why learners get this wrong: A traffic sign always outranks a working traffic light.

Open this question

About The precedence order: who wins when signs disagree?: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Road markings are legally their own category of traffic signs, alongside signs and lights, with the same binding status.
  2. The priority-to-the-right rule always applies as the base rule, regardless of whether an instruction, traffic light, or traffic sign is present.
  3. Traffic signs outrank traffic rules, insofar as those rules are incompatible with the signs.
  4. Traffic lights outrank traffic signs that regulate priority, not the other way round.
Show the answer

Correct answer: The priority-to-the-right rule always applies as the base rule, regardless of whether an instruction, traffic light, or traffic sign is present.

The priority-to-the-right rule is level 4, the base that only applies when levels 1-3 are absent. As soon as an instruction, light, or sign is present and working, that governs priority instead

Why learners get this wrong: A solid line on the road surface is just paint, not a real traffic sign.

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