Theory Mastery

Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

What the exam asks here: It would seem logical: an empty lane next to a busy road, why wouldn't it be for you?

14 minutes · 7 sections · 12 questions

The trap

Many learners think: A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic.

The rule is: A peak-hour lane is an extra lane that is open only during busy periods; it is either the right-hand hard shoulder temporarily used as a lane, or a left-hand extra lane

Challenge

It would seem logical: an empty lane next to a busy road, why wouldn't it be for you? The CBR exam designer knows that 'empty = available' is exactly the trap. Two very different kinds of extra lanes exist here side by side, and one is for you, the other is not — no matter how empty it looks.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

The model

The left lane is a peak-hour lane (Book p.74): an extra lane that is only open during busy periods, here as a left-hand plusstrook. The empty right-hand lane is a target-group lane (Book p.75): specifically for trucks and/or buses. As a car driver you may not drive on it, no matter how empty it looks.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

Core

A peak-hour lane is an extra lane that is only open to traffic during busy periods (Book p.74). There are two forms: the hard shoulder on the right is temporarily used as a lane, or an extra lane on the left (the plusstrook) opens during busy periods. Signs and electronic lane signalling show three possible states: a green arrow pointing straight down means open, you may drive on it. An arrow angled to the right means clear the lane: the lane is about to close, move to the fixed lane in good time. A red cross means closed — the lane ends and becomes an ordinary hard shoulder again, you may no longer drive on it. A target-group lane (signs F19/F21) is something quite different: a special lane, mainly on motorways, for trucks and/or buses (Book p.75). As a car driver you may not use it — not because it is full or empty, but because the vehicle type decides who may.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

Why it matters

Anyone who waits for the red cross before reacting steers a car away in the final seconds between merging traffic on the fixed lane — exactly the behaviour the diagonal 'clear the lane' arrow is meant to prevent in advance. And anyone who uses the empty target-group lane as a shortcut ends up driving among the heaviest vehicles on the road, on a lane not designed for that — with all the braking-distance and visibility problems that brings.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

Active recall

At the A32 near Oldeberkoop there is an empty lane on the right with sign F19. No trucks are on it, only cars are busy on the other lanes. May you use that empty lane?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

Teach back

Explain: what is the difference between a peak-hour lane and a target-group lane, and what do the three signals above a peak-hour lane mean?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

Memory hook

Green = open · angled = clear the lane · red cross = closed. Peak-hour lane: everyone, only during busy periods. Target-group lane (F19/F21): only trucks/buses, always — empty or not.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close

The picture

Three signals above the peak-hour lane: from open back to hard shoulderGreen arrow (open)Angled arrow -> red cross (closing)Meaning (p.74)lane open, you may drive on itlane is about to close (angled arrow), then closed and hard shoulder again (red cross)Actiondrive normally on the lanemerge into the fixed lane before the red cross
What to look at: Peak-hour lane signalling: green arrow = open, angled arrow = clear the lane, red cross = closed (hard shoulder again, do not drive on it).

Test yourself

Friday afternoon, quarter to five, at the A32 near Oldeberkoop there is an extra lane on the left — a peak-hour lane you have not seen all week. A bit further on there is an empty lane on the right that almost nobody uses, while the rest of the road is packed with trucks. May you use that empty right-hand lane?

Show the answer

The left lane is a peak-hour lane (Book p.74): an extra lane that is only open during busy periods, here as a left-hand plusstrook. The empty right-hand lane is a target-group lane (Book p.75): specifically for trucks and/or buses. As a car driver you may not drive on it, no matter how empty it looks.

Exam questions on this topic

Statement: a peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic, just like the other lanes on the A32.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic.

Open this question

At the A32 near Oldeberkoop, sign F19 marks an empty lane. Which vehicles is that lane intended for?

  1. Trucks and/or buses
  2. Passenger cars too, as soon as the other lanes get busy
Show the answer

Correct answer: Trucks and/or buses

Why learners get this wrong: A target-group lane may be used by any vehicle, including an ordinary car, as long as it is busy.

Open this question

You are driving in the left-hand plusstrook of the A32 near Oldeberkoop. Above the lane the sign switches from the green arrow to a red cross, while you still want to continue for another 200 metres. What do you do?

  1. I keep driving and just slow down a bit, the cross is only a warning
  2. I merge into the fixed lane immediately, the lane is closed and a hard shoulder again
Show the answer

Correct answer: I merge into the fixed lane immediately, the lane is closed and a hard shoulder again

Why learners get this wrong: A red cross above the peak-hour lane means you should slow down, not that you must leave the lane.

Open this question

Above the plusstrook of the A32, the electronic sign shows an arrow angled to the right. There is no red cross yet. What does that mean?

  1. The lane is about to close; leave it now, before the red cross appears
  2. As long as there is no red cross, you may simply keep driving
Show the answer

Correct answer: The lane is about to close; leave it now, before the red cross appears

Why learners get this wrong: As long as there is no red cross, you may simply keep driving on the peak-hour lane, even if the arrow already points diagonally to the right.

Open this question

How many different signals does the electronic peak-hour lane signalling above the A32's plusstrook have (green/clear-the-lane/red-cross counted)?

Show the answer

Correct answer: 3 signalen

Correct: 3.0 signalen.

Open this question

Which vehicles may use a target-group lane (sign F19/F21) on the A32? (select all that apply)

  1. Buses
  2. Ordinary cars
  3. Trucks
Show the answer

Correct answer: Buses; Trucks

False — ly selected

Why learners get this wrong: A target-group lane may be used by any vehicle, including an ordinary car, as long as it is busy.

Open this question

At the A32 near Oldeberkoop there is an empty lane on the right with sign F19. No trucks are on it, only cars are busy on the other lanes. May you use that empty lane?

  1. Yes, if it is empty and busy you may all use it
  2. No, a target-group lane is only for trucks and/or buses
Show the answer

Correct answer: No, a target-group lane is only for trucks and/or buses

Sign F19 marks a target-group lane for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not use it, busy or not

Why learners get this wrong: A target-group lane may be used by any vehicle, including an ordinary car, as long as it is busy.

Open this question

Target-group lanes are special lanes for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not drive on them, busy or not.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

Target-group lanes are special lanes for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not drive on them, busy or not

Why learners get this wrong: A target-group lane may be used by any vehicle, including an ordinary car, as long as it is busy.

Open this question

About Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close: which statements are correct? (multiple answers possible)

  1. After the red cross the peak-hour lane ends and becomes a hard shoulder again; you may therefore not continue driving on this lane.
  2. A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic.
  3. As long as there is no red cross, you may simply keep driving on the peak-hour lane, even if the arrow already points diagonally to the right.
  4. Target-group lanes are special lanes for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not drive on them, busy or not.
Show the answer

Correct answer: After the red cross the peak-hour lane ends and becomes a hard shoulder again; you may therefore not continue driving on this lane.; Target-group lanes are special lanes for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not drive on them, busy or not.

A peak-hour lane is an extra lane that is open only during busy periods; it is either the right-hand hard shoulder temporarily used as a lane, or a left-hand extra lane

Why learners get this wrong: A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic.

Open this question

About Peak-hour lane and target-group lane: who may use it, and when does it close: which statement is WRONG?

  1. Signs and electronic lane signalling indicate whether the peak-hour lane is open or closed; the arrow angled to the right means clear the lane, before the red cross actually closes it.
  2. Target-group lanes are special lanes for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not drive on them, busy or not.
  3. A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic.
  4. After the red cross the peak-hour lane ends and becomes a hard shoulder again; you may therefore not continue driving on this lane.
Show the answer

Correct answer: A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic.

A peak-hour lane is an extra lane that is open only during busy periods; it is either the right-hand hard shoulder temporarily used as a lane, or a left-hand extra lane

Why learners get this wrong: As long as there is no red cross, you may simply keep driving on the peak-hour lane, even if the arrow already points diagonally to the right.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘A peak-hour lane is an ordinary lane that is always open to traffic’ – is that true?

No. A peak-hour lane is an extra lane that is open only during busy periods; it is either the right-hand hard shoulder temporarily used as a lane, or a left-hand extra lane

‘A target-group lane may be used by any vehicle, including an ordinary car, as long as it is busy’ – is that true?

No. Target-group lanes are special lanes for trucks and/or buses; as a car driver you may not drive on them, busy or not

‘A red cross above the peak-hour lane means you should slow down, not that you must leave the lane’ – is that true?

No. After the red cross the peak-hour lane ends and becomes a hard shoulder again; you may therefore not continue driving on this lane. It is not a speed warning but a closure

‘As long as there is no red cross, you may simply keep driving on the peak-hour lane, even if the arrow already points diagonally to the right’ – is that true?

No. Signs and electronic lane signalling indicate whether the peak-hour lane is open or closed; the arrow angled to the right means clear the lane, before the red cross actually closes it

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