Theory Mastery

Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

What the exam asks here: 'The tram always has priority anyway, right?' is the rule of thumb most beginners use.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 11 questions

The trap

Many learners think: The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere.

The rule is: When the tram approaches a priority road the ordinary rules apply and it has no special priority; pedestrians on the zebra crossing go before the tram too

Challenge

'The tram always has priority anyway, right?' is the rule of thumb most beginners use. It is often correct — but not everywhere, and not automatically towards every road user. The book gives exactly three situations, not a blank cheque.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

The model

At an equal junction the tram goes first in three situations (Book p.111-113): when it comes from the left; when it turns while you go straight ahead; or when it wants to turn left into a road while you turn right into the same road.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

Core

Exception 1 applies at an equal junction (no signs/lights regulating priority); exceptions 2 and 3 apply wherever the tram turns, unless signs regulate priority otherwise: 1. The tram comes from the left — the reverse of the ordinary right-of-way rule. 2. The tram turns, while you go straight ahead on the same road. 3. The tram wants to turn left into a road, while you turn right into that same road. Outside these three situations the tram is not all-powerful: on a priority road the ordinary priority-road rules apply, no special tram priority. And a turning tram does NOT go before a pedestrian crossing at a pedestrian crossing (Book p.113).

Read this section on its own page: Core: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

Why it matters

A tram cannot swerve and has a long braking distance — that is why the book gives the tram three clear priority moments at an equal junction. But that same property tempts drivers into giving the tram priority everywhere, even where a pedestrian or the ordinary priority-road rules should actually go first.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

Active recall

On a priority road in Den Haag (sign B1) a tram approaches on its own rails beside the road. What applies here?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

Teach back

Explain: what are the three exceptions where the tram goes first at an equal junction, and in which two situations does special tram priority NOT apply?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

Memory hook

From the left, turning, turning-left-into-the-road: tram wins. Priority road and pedestrian: ordinary rules.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right

Source: RVV 1990 art. 15 · RVV 1990 art. 18 · RVV 1990 art. 49 · RVV 1990 art. 63 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Tram priority: three exceptions, two 'no exceptions'Equal junctionPriority road / pedestrian crossingTram comes from the lefttram goes first (exception 1, Book p.111-112)n/aTram turns, you go straight aheadtram goes first (exception 2, Book p.112)n/aTram turns left into the road, you turn right into the same roadtram goes first (exception 3, Book p.112-113)n/aOn a priority road / towards a pedestrian on a crossingn/ano special tram priority (Book p.113)
What to look at: Three exceptions where the tram goes first: from the left, turning versus straight-ahead, turning left versus turning right. On a priority road and towards pedestrians, no exceptions apply.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At an equal junction in Den Haag a tram approaches from the left. You are going straight ahead. Who goes first?

Show the answer

At an equal junction the tram goes first in three situations (Book p.111-113): when it comes from the left; when it turns while you go straight ahead; or when it wants to turn left into a road while you turn right into the same road.

Exam questions on this topic

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
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

In Rotterdam a tram is turning left. A pedestrian is crossing the pedestrian crossing at that moment, exactly in the path of the turning tram. Statement: the turning tram may go before this pedestrian.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: A turning tram may always go before a pedestrian on the crossing, because the tram is bigger and cannot stop quickly.

Open this question

At an equal junction in Den Haag a tram approaches from the left. You are going straight ahead and the tram is not coming from the right. What do you do?

  1. I give way to the tram, because the tram comes from the left at an equal junction
  2. I go first, because the tram does not come from the right and therefore has no priority under the right-of-way rule
Show the answer

Correct answer: I give way to the tram, because the tram comes from the left at an equal junction

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.

Open this question

In which situations does the tram get priority at an equal junction that an ordinary driver in the same position would not get (Book p.111-113)? Select all that apply.

  1. The tram wants to turn left into a road while you turn right into the same road
  2. The tram comes from the left
  3. The tram turns while you go straight ahead on the same road
  4. The tram is driving on a priority road
Show the answer

Correct answer: The tram wants to turn left into a road while you turn right into the same road; The tram comes from the left; The tram turns while you go straight ahead on the same road

Why learners get this wrong: The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere.

Open this question

How many exceptions does the book give specifically for the tram at an equal junction, where the tram gets priority it would not normally have?

Show the answer

Correct answer: 3

Open this question

At a junction in Rotterdam a tram turns left, while you (car) are going straight ahead on the same road. Who goes first?

  1. The tram goes first — this is the turning-versus-straight-ahead exception
  2. I go first, because I go straight ahead and straight-ahead traffic goes before turning traffic
Show the answer

Correct answer: The tram goes first — this is the turning-versus-straight-ahead exception

Why learners get this wrong: The tram only has priority when it comes from the left at an equal junction; when turning or entering a road, the ordinary straight-ahead or right-turn rules apply to the tram, just like a car.

Open this question

The tram only has priority when it comes from the left at an equal junction; when turning or entering a road, the ordinary straight-ahead or right-turn rules apply to the tram, just like a car.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

There are two EXTRA exceptions besides 'from the left': also when the tram TURNS while you go straight ahead, and when the tram turns LEFT into a road while you turn right into the same road, the tram still gets priority

Why learners get this wrong: The tram only has priority when it comes from the left at an equal junction; when turning or entering a road, the ordinary straight-ahead or right-turn rules apply to the tram, just like a car.

Open this question

On a priority road in Den Haag (sign B1) a tram approaches on its own rails beside the road. What applies here?

  1. The tram always goes first anyway, everywhere.
  2. The ordinary priority-road rules — the tram has no special priority here.
Show the answer

Correct answer: The ordinary priority-road rules — the tram has no special priority here.

When the tram approaches a priority road the ordinary rules apply and it has no special priority; pedestrians on the zebra crossing go before the tram too

Why learners get this wrong: The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere.

Open this question

When the tram approaches a priority road the ordinary rules apply and it has no special priority; pedestrians on the zebra crossing go before the tram too.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

When the tram approaches a priority road the ordinary rules apply and it has no special priority; pedestrians on the zebra crossing go before the tram too

Why learners get this wrong: The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere.

Open this question

About Tram priority: three exceptions, not an absolute right: which statement is correct?

  1. Explicit: a turning tram does NOT go before pedestrians crossing at a pedestrian crossing.
  2. The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere.
  3. 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.
  4. The tram only has priority when it comes from the left at an equal junction; when turning or entering a road, the ordinary straight-ahead or right-turn rules apply to the tram, just like a car.
Show the answer

Correct answer: Explicit: a turning tram does NOT go before pedestrians crossing at a pedestrian crossing.

Explicit: a turning tram does NOT go before pedestrians crossing at a pedestrian crossing

Why learners get this wrong: The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘The tram has priority in all situations, always and everywhere’ – is that true?

No. When the tram approaches a priority road the ordinary rules apply and it has no special priority; pedestrians on the zebra crossing go before the tram too

‘A turning tram may always go before a pedestrian on the crossing, because the tram is bigger and cannot stop quickly’ – is that true?

No. Explicit: a turning tram does NOT go before pedestrians crossing at a pedestrian crossing

‘The tram only has priority when it comes from the left at an equal junction; when turning or entering a road, the ordinary straight-ahead or right-turn rules apply to the tram, just like a car’ – is that true?

No. There are two EXTRA exceptions besides 'from the left': also when the tram TURNS while you go straight ahead, and when the tram turns LEFT into a road while you turn right into the same road, the tram still gets priority

‘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’ – is that true?

No. The tram has its own exception rule: it goes first as soon as it comes from the LEFT (the reverse of the right-of-way rule for ordinary drivers), plus the two turning exceptions

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