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

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.