Theory Mastery

The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

What the exam asks here: 'She's still standing still, she's not walking yet' is exactly the thought the CBR exam designer counts on.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 9 questions

The trap

Many learners think: You only need to give way to a pedestrian once they are actually walking on the zebra crossing, not while they are merely standing next to it waiting.

The rule is: The rule already applies once someone is about to cross, not only once they are already walking. Waiting at the edge already counts

Challenge

'She's still standing still, she's not walking yet' is exactly the thought the CBR exam designer counts on. The book gives the duty to give way a second, equally binding condition alongside 'crossing': being about to cross already counts.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

The model

You give way to pedestrians and drivers of a mobility scooter as soon as they cross, OR are about to cross (Book p.91). Overtaking is forbidden right before or on the zebra crossing; with multiple lanes you may stop next to a stationary vehicle. And around the crossing itself, even without a sign, a stopping ban of 5 metres before and after applies (Book p.161-162).

Read this section on its own page: The model: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

Core

At a zebra crossing you give way to pedestrians and drivers of a mobility scooter as soon as they cross, OR are already about to cross (Book p.91) — waiting at the edge is enough, you do not need to wait until someone is actually walking. Overtaking is forbidden right before or on the crossing. With multiple lanes in the same direction you MAY stop next to another stationary vehicle — that is not an exception to the overtaking ban, because you do not pass the vehicle, you only come to a stop alongside it. Around the crossing itself, even without a sign, a stopping ban of up to 5 metres before and after also applies — this rule is not on book p.91 itself, but on p.161-162 (Chapter 10, stopping-ban list); the same rule also taught in the chapter on stopping and parking. Within that 5 metres you may not stop for even a second, not even to quickly let someone out.

Read this section on its own page: Core: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

Why it matters

A parked or stationary car close to a zebra crossing blocks sightlines — yours onto the pedestrian, the pedestrian's onto approaching traffic. The 5-metre zone keeps that sightline open on both sides. And whoever only gives way once someone is already walking reacts too late: that pedestrian has already stepped onto the road.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

Active recall

On the boulevard in Noordwijk a cyclist is standing still next to a zebra crossing, clearly waiting to cross, but has not yet set foot on the road. Must you give way to them?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

Teach back

Explain: when must you give way to a pedestrian at a zebra crossing, what is/isn't allowed regarding overtaking, and how far does the stopping ban around the crossing reach?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

Memory hook

Zebra crossing: priority when crossing OR waiting. Overtaking forbidden, stopping alongside allowed. Stopping ban: 5m before and after.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone

Source: RVV 1990 art. 24 · RVV 1990 art. 49 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Zebra crossing: three rules around the same linePriority (p.91)Overtaking (p.91)What is not allowedignoring a pedestrian who is crossing or waiting to crossovertaking a vehicle right before/on the crossingWhat is allowedgiving way, even while the pedestrian is still standing at the edgestopping next to a stationary vehicle when there are multiple lanes
What to look at: Zebra crossing: priority when crossing or waiting to cross. Overtaking forbidden right before/on the crossing; stopping next to a stationary vehicle is allowed. Stopping ban: 5 metres before and after.

Signs and law

Test yourself

On the boulevard in Noordwijk, busy tourist season, a parent with a pram is standing still at the edge of a zebra crossing, ready to cross but not yet moving. Must you already give way to her?

Show the answer

You give way to pedestrians and drivers of a mobility scooter as soon as they cross, OR are about to cross (Book p.91). Overtaking is forbidden right before or on the zebra crossing; with multiple lanes you may stop next to a stationary vehicle. And around the crossing itself, even without a sign, a stopping ban of 5 metres before and after applies (Book p.161-162).

Exam questions on this topic

About The zebra crossing: priority, overtaking ban and the 5-metre zone: which statement is correct?

  1. The stopping ban at a zebra crossing only applies before the crossing, not after it.
  2. You only need to give way to a pedestrian once they are actually walking on the zebra crossing, not while they are merely standing next to it waiting.
  3. The exception is STOPPING next to another stationary vehicle, not overtaking.
  4. Right before a zebra crossing you may stop briefly to let a passenger quickly get out, as long as it is short.
Show the answer

Correct answer: The exception is STOPPING next to another stationary vehicle, not overtaking.

The exception is STOPPING next to another stationary vehicle, not overtaking. Driving on and passing the vehicle remains forbidden right before or on the crossing

Why learners get this wrong: The stopping ban at a zebra crossing only applies before the crossing, not after it.

Open this question

On the boulevard in Noordwijk a cyclist is standing still next to a zebra crossing, clearly waiting to cross, but has not yet set foot on the road. Must you give way to them?

  1. No — only once they actually start walking must you wait
  2. Yes — being about to cross already counts as a priority situation
Show the answer

Correct answer: Yes — being about to cross already counts as a priority situation

The rule already applies once someone is 'about to cross'

Why learners get this wrong: You only need to give way to a pedestrian once they are actually walking on the zebra crossing, not while they are merely standing next to it waiting.

Open this question

The rule already applies once someone is about to cross, not only once they are already walking.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The rule already applies once someone is about to cross, not only once they are already walking. Waiting at the edge already counts

Why learners get this wrong: You only need to give way to a pedestrian once they are actually walking on the zebra crossing, not while they are merely standing next to it waiting.

Open this question

On the boulevard in Noordwijk you are in the right of two lanes in your direction, approaching a zebra crossing. In the left lane a car has stopped before the crossing. A pedestrian on the pavement clearly wants to cross. What do you do?

  1. I stop too and let the pedestrian cross
  2. I drive on, because he is still on the pavement
  3. I calmly pass the stationary car in my lane
Show the answer

Correct answer: I stop too and let the pedestrian cross

False — you confuse stopping alongside with overtaking. Just before or on a zebra crossing you may not overtake; you may stop next to the stationary car

Why learners get this wrong: You only need to give way to a pedestrian once they are actually walking on the zebra crossing, not while they are merely standing next to it waiting.

Open this question

On a road with two lanes towards Naaldwijk a van is stationary, right before a zebra crossing, to let someone out. Statement: you may overtake this van as long as you stay in the other lane.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: With multiple lanes in the same direction, you may overtake a vehicle that is stationary before the crossing, as long as you stay in a different lane.

Open this question

In Noordwijk you stop 3 metres after a zebra crossing, just for a few seconds, to let your passenger get out. Is that allowed?

  1. Yes — the ban applies only before the zebra crossing; 3 metres after it is fine
  2. Yes — briefly stopping to let someone out is allowed, even at 3 metres
  3. No — 3 metres after the zebra crossing you may not stop either, not even briefly
Show the answer

Correct answer: No — 3 metres after the zebra crossing you may not stop either, not even briefly

False — you apply the ban only on the side you approach from. The stopping ban applies on both sides: 5 metres before and 5 metres after the zebra crossing.

Why learners get this wrong: The stopping ban at a zebra crossing only applies before the crossing, not after it.

Open this question

In Noordwijk you want to let your passenger get out. Just ahead of you is a zebra crossing; 4 metres after it there is still space along the kerb. What do you do?

  1. I stop 4 metres after it, because after the crossing that is allowed
  2. I stop just before the crossing, because a quick drop-off is allowed
  3. I drive on and only stop more than 5 metres after the crossing
Show the answer

Correct answer: I drive on and only stop more than 5 metres after the crossing

False — you think the no-stopping zone lies only before the crossing. At a zebra crossing you may not stop, nor within 5 metres before AND 5 metres after it

Why learners get this wrong: The stopping ban at a zebra crossing only applies before the crossing, not after it.

Open this question

Which statements about a zebra crossing are correct? (select all correct; Book p.91, p.161-162)

  1. You may stop next to a stationary vehicle when there are multiple lanes in the same direction
  2. Overtaking right before or on the zebra crossing is forbidden
  3. Briefly stopping to let someone out is always allowed, even within 5 metres of the crossing
  4. You already give way to a pedestrian who is about to cross
  5. The stopping ban at a crossing only applies on the side you are approaching from
Show the answer

Correct answer: You may stop next to a stationary vehicle when there are multiple lanes in the same direction; Overtaking right before or on the zebra crossing is forbidden; You already give way to a pedestrian who is about to cross

Why learners get this wrong: Right before a zebra crossing you may stop briefly to let a passenger quickly get out, as long as it is short.

Open this question

In Noordwijk a taxi driver briefly stops his car 2 metres after a zebra crossing, where there is no sign, to let an elderly passenger with a walker get out. An enforcement officer fines him. Is the fine justified?

  1. Yes, he may not stop just after the zebra crossing either, however briefly
  2. No, the stopping ban only applies before the zebra crossing, not after it
  3. No, briefly stopping there to let a passenger get out is allowed
Show the answer

Correct answer: Yes, he may not stop just after the zebra crossing either, however briefly

False — the ban does not only apply on the side you arrive from. At a crossing you may not stop on the crossing and up to 5 metres before and after it, even without a sign

Why learners get this wrong: The stopping ban at a zebra crossing only applies before the crossing, not after it.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘You only need to give way to a pedestrian once they are actually walking on the zebra crossing, not while they are merely standing next to it waiting’ – is that true?

No. The rule already applies once someone is about to cross, not only once they are already walking. Waiting at the edge already counts

‘With multiple lanes in the same direction, you may overtake a vehicle that is stationary before the crossing, as long as you stay in a different lane’ – is that true?

No. The exception is STOPPING next to another stationary vehicle, not overtaking. Driving on and passing the vehicle remains forbidden right before or on the crossing

‘Right before a zebra crossing you may stop briefly to let a passenger quickly get out, as long as it is short’ – is that true?

No. At a crossing a stopping ban applies up to 5 metres before and after it: no interruption at all is allowed, not even to briefly let someone out

‘The stopping ban at a zebra crossing only applies before the crossing, not after it’ – is that true?

No. The stopping ban applies plus 5 metres BEFORE and AFTER, symmetrically on both sides of the crossing

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