Theory Mastery

RVV 1990 art. 18: turning: straight-on goes first

Official text on wetten.overheid.nl

Turning drivers let oncoming and straight-on traffic on the same road go first, cyclists and pedestrians included; turning right goes before oncoming left.

Source: RVV 1990 art. 18 · checked 2026-10-23

How the exam asks it

At a junction in Dordrecht you turn right. A cyclist is riding straight ahead next to you. Who must go first?

  1. Me, because a car is bigger and more visible
  2. Me, because the rule only applies to oncoming cars, not to a cyclist beside me
  3. The cyclist, because they go straight ahead on the same road
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Correct answer: The cyclist, because they go straight ahead on the same road

Why learners get this wrong: A turning car may always go first, even if a cyclist is going straight ahead.

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At a junction in Gouda you want to turn left. An oncoming driver wants to turn right, at the same junction. Who goes first?

  1. The right-turning driver
  2. Me, because I was already waiting to turn first
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Correct answer: The right-turning driver

Why learners get this wrong: As a left-turning driver who is already waiting, I may go first before the oncoming right-turning driver starts moving.

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You are driving on a wide road through Groningen and want to turn left. An oncoming car at the same junction also wants to turn left, with no other special circumstances. How do you normally pass each other?

  1. Left-past-left (passing in front of each other)
  2. Right-past-right, just like two cars both going straight
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Correct answer: Left-past-left (passing in front of each other)

False — For two oncoming drivers both turning left, 'left-past-left' is the main rule, not 'right-past-right'

Why learners get this wrong: Two oncoming drivers who both want to turn left pass each other, as the main rule, right around right.

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