Theory Mastery

The hierarchy: which sign wins when they conflict

What the exam asks here: Almost everyone says: 'red is red, I stop.' The CBR exam designer knows you have been trained that way — and tests exactly that reflex.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 11 questions

The trap

Many learners think: A traffic light always outranks every traffic sign, even a sign that regulates something completely different from right of way (such as a closure or a speed limit).

The rule is: A traffic light only outranks traffic signs that regulate right of way (B-signs, shark's teeth). A closure sign (C) or a speed-limit sign keeps applying alongside the light

Challenge

Almost everyone says: 'red is red, I stop.' The CBR exam designer knows you have been trained that way — and tests exactly that reflex. Four kinds of signs can contradict each other: an instruction, a light, a traffic sign, a traffic rule. There is a fixed order of which one wins; know that order, and 'red is red' stops being a trap.

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The model

The real hierarchy has four levels (RULINGS.md R-h03-1, LAW-VERIFIED): instructions from an officer or traffic controller override traffic lights; traffic lights override signs regulating priority; signs override the ordinary traffic rules.

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Core

The second rung has a boundary that is often forgotten: a traffic light only outranks a traffic sign that regulates right of way — so shark's teeth or a B-sign. A closure sign or a speed-limit sign next to it keeps applying regardless, light or no light. The third rung lets a sign or marking outrank the bare traffic rule: a priority sign overrides the right-hand rule. Without a sign, light or instruction, you fall back on that bottom rung — never on 'no rule at all'. Book p.57-58 gives two worked examples confirming this order: whoever enters on green does not have to give way to someone running the red light at the same junction (light outranks sign/rule); and an instruction from a traffic controller in turn outranks even a red light.

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Why it matters

Guessing wrong on this hierarchy is dangerous in both directions: trusting a broken light too much while an officer is holding you back, or ignoring a roadworks controller because 'the light was green anyway'. When a traffic light is knocked out after a storm near Enschede, the hierarchy is the only thing that decides who goes first: first whoever is giving instructions on the spot, otherwise the sign, otherwise the right-hand rule.

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Active recall

Back at the junction in Zwolle: the light is red, the traffic controller signals you to proceed. What is correct?

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Teach back

Explain: what are the four rungs of the hierarchy, from high to low, and what happens once every sign and light drops away?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: The hierarchy: which sign wins when they conflict

Memory hook

Instruction > light > sign (right of way) > rule. Light only outranks priority signs, not every sign; without any signs, the rule itself still always applies.

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Source: RVV 1990 art. 15 · RVV 1990 art. 62 · RVV 1990 art. 63 · RVV 1990 art. 64 · RVV 1990 art. 82 · RVV 1990 art. 84 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Hierarchy of traffic signs and instructions (RVV art. 84, 64, 63)Instruction (traffic controller, police)always wins — including over both red and green lights (art. 84, art. 82 para 1)Traffic lightwins over a priority sign (art. 64) — only when that sign regulates right of wayTraffic sign (shark's teeth, B-sign)wins over the bare traffic rule (art. 63)Traffic rule (e.g. the right-hand rule)the floor — always applies once every sign and light drops away (art. 15)
What to look at: Hierarchy pyramid: instruction outranks traffic light, traffic light outranks priority sign, priority sign outranks traffic rule.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At a busy junction in Zwolle the traffic light is red. Next to the road a traffic controller in a hi-vis vest is signalling you to proceed anyway. What do you do?

Show the answer

The real hierarchy has four levels (RULINGS.md R-h03-1, LAW-VERIFIED): instructions from an officer or traffic controller override traffic lights; traffic lights override signs regulating priority; signs override the ordinary traffic rules.

Exam questions on this topic

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
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

You are approaching a junction in Rotterdam. There are shark's teeth across your lane, but your traffic light is green. Your passenger says: 'Now the light governs priority, not the shark's teeth.' Is that true?

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

False — you put the shark's teeth above the light. A working traffic light ranks above shark's teeth and priority signs; on green you may drive on. The shark's teeth only apply again when the light is not working.

Why learners get this wrong: A priority sign (for example shark's teeth or sign B6) outranks a traffic light when the two contradict each other.

Open this question

At roadworks in Rotterdam-Zuid there is a white solid line between two lanes. A recognisable traffic controller signals you across that line into the other lane, to follow the diversion. There are no police nearby. What do you do?

  1. You wait until a police officer lets you cross it
  2. You stay in your lane, because the line comes first
  3. You follow the signal and cross the line
Show the answer

Correct answer: You follow the signal and cross the line

False — you think only the police may give such an instruction. An authorised traffic controller who is recognisable as such also gives instructions you must follow, and they rank above the lines on the road.

Why learners get this wrong: Only a police officer may let you depart from a traffic sign; a traffic controller's signal is not enough for that.

Open this question

On one drive through Rotterdam you meet the four situations below. In which situations do you act correctly? (multiple answers possible)

  1. Your light is red, but a recognisable traffic controller waves you on: you drive
  2. The light has failed and there is no sign: you let traffic from the right go first
  3. Your light is green and you turn into a street with the 'no entry' sign
  4. Your light is green, but there are shark's teeth: you let the crossing traffic go first
Show the answer

Correct answer: Your light is red, but a recognisable traffic controller waves you on: you drive; The light has failed and there is no sign: you let traffic from the right go first

False — you put the shark's teeth above the light. A working traffic light ranks above shark's teeth and priority signs; on green you may go, the crossing traffic has red.

Why learners get this wrong: A traffic light always outranks every traffic sign, even a sign that regulates something completely different from right of way (such as a closure or a speed limit).

Open this question

After a storm near Enschede the traffic light at a junction has failed. There are no priority signs and no shark's teeth. Your passenger says: 'Now traffic from the right simply goes first.' Is that true?

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

False — you think that without a light and without a sign there is no priority rule left. Then the basic rule applies: at a junction traffic from the right goes first. Not whoever arrives first, and not agreeing among yourselves.

Why learners get this wrong: If a junction has no sign and no working traffic light, no right-of-way rule applies — drivers must simply agree among themselves who goes first.

Open this question

At a junction in Deventer the priority road sign (orange-and-white diamond) stands for your direction of travel. A driver approaches from the right out of a side street that has no sign of its own. Who must give way here?

  1. The driver from the side street, because your priority sign comes first
  2. You, because traffic from the right has priority at a junction
  3. You agree on it together, because the side street has no sign of its own
Show the answer

Correct answer: The driver from the side street, because your priority sign comes first

False — without a sign in the side street there is still a rule. The priority road sign for your direction settles priority for the whole junction, so the driver from the side street gives way to you. Even where there is no sign at all, you fall back on a rule (right goes first), never on agreeing between yourselves.

Why learners get this wrong: The right-hand rule (priority to drivers from the right) always applies, even when a priority sign says otherwise.

Open this question

About The hierarchy: which sign wins when they conflict: which statement is correct?

  1. A traffic light always outranks every traffic sign, even a sign that regulates something completely different from right of way (such as a closure or a speed limit).
  2. If a junction has no sign and no working traffic light, no right-of-way rule applies — drivers must simply agree among themselves who goes first.
  3. It is exactly the other way round: the traffic light wins over the priority sign.
  4. On a green light you may always proceed, even if a traffic controller is signalling you to stop.
Show the answer

Correct answer: It is exactly the other way round: the traffic light wins over the priority sign.

It is exactly the other way round: the traffic light wins over the priority sign. If you enter on green, you do not have to give way to someone running the red light at that crossing

Why learners get this wrong: A traffic light always outranks every traffic sign, even a sign that regulates something completely different from right of way (such as a closure or a speed limit).

Open this question

Back at the junction in Zwolle: the light is red, the traffic controller signals you to proceed. What is correct?

  1. You follow the traffic controller and proceed
  2. You wait for the light to turn green, regardless of the traffic controller
  3. You stop for the red light, because a light outranks a human giving gestures
Show the answer

Correct answer: You follow the traffic controller and proceed

Instruction > light > sign > rule.

Why learners get this wrong: A traffic light always outranks every traffic sign, even a sign that regulates something completely different from right of way (such as a closure or a speed limit).

Open this question

On a green light you may always proceed, even if a traffic controller is signalling you to stop.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Instructions from a competent, recognisable traffic controller outrank any traffic light, including green. You follow the controller, not the light

Why learners get this wrong: On a green light you may always proceed, even if a traffic controller is signalling you to stop.

Open this question

About The hierarchy: which sign wins when they conflict: which statement is correct?

  1. If a junction has no sign and no working traffic light, no right-of-way rule applies — drivers must simply agree among themselves who goes first.
  2. A priority sign (for example shark's teeth or sign B6) outranks a traffic light when the two contradict each other.
  3. On a green light you may always proceed, even if a traffic controller is signalling you to stop.
  4. A traffic light only outranks traffic signs that regulate right of way (B-signs, shark's teeth).
Show the answer

Correct answer: A traffic light only outranks traffic signs that regulate right of way (B-signs, shark's teeth).

A traffic light only outranks traffic signs that regulate right of way (B-signs, shark's teeth). A closure sign (C) or a speed-limit sign keeps applying alongside the light

Why learners get this wrong: If a junction has no sign and no working traffic light, no right-of-way rule applies — drivers must simply agree among themselves who goes first.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘A traffic light always outranks every traffic sign, even a sign that regulates something completely different from right of way (such as a closure or a speed limit)’ – is that true?

No. A traffic light only outranks traffic signs that regulate right of way (B-signs, shark's teeth). A closure sign (C) or a speed-limit sign keeps applying alongside the light

‘A priority sign (for example shark's teeth or sign B6) outranks a traffic light when the two contradict each other’ – is that true?

No. It is exactly the other way round: the traffic light wins over the priority sign. If you enter on green, you do not have to give way to someone running the red light at that crossing

‘On a green light you may always proceed, even if a traffic controller is signalling you to stop’ – is that true?

No. Instructions from a competent, recognisable traffic controller outrank any traffic light, including green. You follow the controller, not the light

‘If a junction has no sign and no working traffic light, no right-of-way rule applies — drivers must simply agree among themselves who goes first’ – is that true?

No. Once every sign and light drops away (e.g. a broken traffic light with no sign next to it), the bottom rung applies automatically: the right-hand rule. No sign never means 'no rule'

‘A traffic sign (such as a solid line on the road surface) may never be ignored, not even on the instruction of a competent traffic controller’ – is that true?

No. Instructions outrank traffic signs AND traffic rules, with no exception for road-surface markings. A traffic controller may therefore direct you across a solid line during a diversion

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