Theory Mastery

RVV 1990 art. 63: signs beat rules

Official text on wetten.overheid.nl

Traffic signs take precedence over traffic rules in so far as the rules are incompatible with the signs.

Source: RVV 1990 art. 63 · checked 2026-10-23

How the exam asks it

Late in the evening in Nijmegen you reach a junction where the traffic light is completely dark. There is no sign and there are no shark's teeth. At the same time a car approaches from the right. What do you do?

  1. Whoever reaches the junction first may go through first
  2. You let the car coming from the right go first
  3. You agree with the other driver who goes first
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Correct answer: You let the car coming from the right go first

False — a dark light does not leave a gap in which whoever arrives first may go. Without a sign or working light you fall back on the basic rule: traffic from the right goes first

Why learners get this wrong: At a dark traffic light without signs: whoever reaches the junction first may go first.

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In Den Haag you are driving straight on along a priority road (yellow diamond). From the right a tram approaches out of a side street with shark's teeth; it wants to cross your road. Who goes first?

  1. You go first; the tram from the side street must let you pass
  2. The tram goes first, because traffic from the right goes first here
  3. The tram goes first, because a tram has priority over cars
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Correct answer: You go first; the tram from the side street must let you pass

False — a tram does not have priority everywhere. On a priority road the ordinary rules apply; the tram from the side street with shark's teeth must let you go first. Here the shark's teeth outrank the tram rules

Why learners get this wrong: At an equal junction the ordinary right-of-way rule simply applies to the tram: if it does not come from the right, it has no priority.

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About The real hierarchy: who overrules whom on priority?: which statement is WRONG?

  1. The order is: traffic controller, then traffic lights, then signs, then the rules; a controller who is present overrides the signs.
  2. You must always obey a red traffic light, even if a traffic controller or police officer waves you through with a hand signal.
  3. Traffic signs are used precisely WHEN the traffic rules (such as the rechts-regel) are not sufficient.
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Correct answer: You must always obey a red traffic light, even if a traffic controller or police officer waves you through with a hand signal.

Instructions from an authorised officer or traffic controller override traffic lights, which in turn override signs. At a hand signal from the officer, you follow the officer, not the red light

Why learners get this wrong: When the traffic lights are faulty, the priority signs apply, even if a traffic controller is directing traffic.

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