The trap
Many learners think: The only danger of a dike road is the height; if you are not afraid of heights, a dike road is just as safe as an ordinary road.
The rule is: Dike roads are also winding and less clear than they look, have blind uphill side entrances, a narrow carriageway, sloping verges unsuitable for evasive manoeuvres, and overtaking is often not safely possible there
Challenge
Most students only think of 'height' for a dike road and only of 'a steep road' for mountain driving. The book names a series of concrete, less obvious risks for both — and the CBR exam designer tests exactly those details, not the obvious image.
Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Dike roads and mountain driving
The model
Dike roads are winding and less clear than they look, with blind uphill side entrances and a narrow carriageway with sloping verges (Book p.69). In the mountains: do not climb in too high a gear, and climbing traffic gets priority from descending traffic (Book p.69-70).
Read this section on its own page: The model: Dike roads and mountain driving
Core
Dike roads are found mainly in river areas (Book p.69). They have unpleasant characteristics: they are winding and less clear than they look, they have blind uphill side entrances and side roads, and they have a narrow carriageway with sloping verges. The road surface is often somewhat convex and, especially on remote dikes, often in poor condition. Three limitations go with that: overtaking motor vehicles is often not safely possible there; vehicles from side roads come up onto the dike at an angle and often have poor sight of the road; and you often cannot safely evade, because the verges there are not suitable for it. In the Netherlands almost all roads are flat, so you cannot practise mountain driving during your driving lessons (Book p.69) — but the book does give the rules. When climbing: do not drive up the mountain in too high a gear; the engine is better off revving more than being lugged, because too few revs raise the engine temperature considerably and increase the risk of engine damage. When descending, part of this reverses: take the descent in the same gear as the climb and make use of the engine's braking effect — do not drive with dragging brakes. Climbing traffic must be given priority by descending traffic. Only overtake very carefully, because on rising roads such a manoeuvre takes much more time. And whether climbing or descending, stay alert for water, mud, loose stones and the like on the road (Book p.70).
Read this section on its own page: Core: Dike roads and mountain driving
Why it matters
On the dike near Opijnen you see an oncoming vehicle only late because of the winding line of the road — and if a car then also comes at an angle from a side road, you have no verge to evade into. In the mountains the risk is reversed in time: you only notice too high a gear once the engine has already overheated, not at the moment you shift.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Dike roads and mountain driving
Active recall
On a mountain road a climbing and a descending car meet each other on a narrow stretch. According to the book, who must be given priority?
Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Dike roads and mountain driving
Teach back
Explain: which gear do you use when descending a mountain compared to the climb, and why must you not drive with dragging brakes?
Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Dike roads and mountain driving
Memory hook
Dike: winding, narrow, sloping verge, overtaking often unsafe. Mountain: climbing = not too high a gear; descending = same gear + engine braking; climbing > descending in priority.
Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Dike roads and mountain driving
Source: RVV 1990 art. 3 · checked 2026-10-22
Frequently asked questions
‘The only danger of a dike road is the height; if you are not afraid of heights, a dike road is just as safe as an ordinary road’ – is that true?
No. Dike roads are also winding and less clear than they look, have blind uphill side entrances, a narrow carriageway, sloping verges unsuitable for evasive manoeuvres, and overtaking is often not safely possible there
‘When climbing a mountain it is best to shift to a higher gear, so the engine does not have to work as hard’ – is that true?
No. Do not drive up the mountain in too high a gear; the engine is better off revving more than being lugged, because too few revs raise the engine temperature considerably and increase the risk of engine damage
‘On a mountain road descending traffic has priority over climbing traffic, because braking while descending is harder’ – is that true?
No. Climbing traffic must be given priority by descending traffic, not the other way around
‘When descending it is best to shift to a higher gear than during the climb, to spare the engine’ – is that true?
No. Take descents in the same gear as the climbs and make use of the engine's braking effect; do not drive with dragging brakes
‘On a dike road you can simply swerve onto the sloping verge in an emergency’ – is that true?
No. On dike roads you often cannot swerve safely: the verges slope away and are not suitable for it; overtaking is often not safely possible there