Theory Mastery

Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

What the exam asks here: Many learners flip the two signs around in their heads: they think the sign with ONE stripe is the strictest (because 'number one comes first, so it's heaviest'), and that the sign with the CROSS still leaves room.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 10 questions

The trap

Many learners think: Sign E1 forbids all standing still (including loading/unloading), and sign E2 only forbids parking but still allows standing still.

The rule is: It is exactly the reverse. Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban: standing still for loading/unloading or getting in/out is still allowed. Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban: that forbids EVERYTHING, including loading/unloading

Challenge

Many learners flip the two signs around in their heads: they think the sign with ONE stripe is the strictest (because 'number one comes first, so it's heaviest'), and that the sign with the CROSS still leaves room. It is exactly the reverse. The CBR exam designer knows this inversion is widespread — and tests it head-on precisely because of that.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

The model

Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban. You may still stand still there to load/unload or let a passenger in/out (Book p.160). Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban. That forbids everything — loading/unloading too, parking too.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

Core

The distinction between the two signs builds directly on standing still versus parking (see definitie.onderscheid): E1 only forbids parking — the standing-still exception (immediate loading/unloading, or letting a passenger in/out) remains simply allowed. E2 forbids standing still itself — and because parking is a form of standing still that falls outside the exception, E2 automatically forbids parking too. The memory hook is in the icon, not the sequence number: one stripe at E1 still leaves a crack open; the cross at E2 (two stripes crossing each other) shuts everything. Both signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand (Book p.160) — the other side of the street can have a completely different rule. And sub-signs refine the ban further: an arrow limits it to the direction of the arrow, numbers limit it to specific days of the month.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

Why it matters

The confusion between E1 and E2 is not a theoretical detail — in practice, for example when restocking a shop in the centre of Woerden, it decides whether you may or may not stop to unload boxes. Guessing wrong at E2 (thinking you may load/unload) earns a fine for an illegal stand; guessing wrong at E1 (thinking you cannot stop at all) means needlessly parking further away and walking.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

Active recall

On a rainy Tuesday evening, while loading furniture for a move in Bergen op Zoom, the removal van is parked next to a sign with TWO red stripes crossing each other. May the driver stand still here to load?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

Teach back

Explain: what does sign E1 mean, what does sign E2 mean, and how do you tell from the icon (not the number) which sign is strictest?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

Memory hook

One stripe (E1) = parking ban, a crack open for loading/unloading. Cross (E2) = standing-still ban, everything shut.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban

The picture

Sign E1 versus sign E2: the number of stripes decides how strictSign E1 (one stripe)Sign E2 (cross, two stripes)Meaning (p.160)parking banstanding-still ban (therefore also parking)Loading/unloading or getting in/out?still allowednot allowedValidityonly the side of the road where the sign standsonly the side of the road where the sign stands
What to look at: E1 (one stripe) = parking ban, loading/unloading allowed. E2 (cross, two stripes) = standing-still ban, everything forbidden. Signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At the Vomar in Tiel you see two identical blue signs a hundred metres apart: one with a single red diagonal stripe, the other with two red stripes forming a cross. A parcel courier stops at the second sign to quickly drop off a box. Is that allowed?

Show the answer

Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban. You may still stand still there to load/unload or let a passenger in/out (Book p.160). Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban. That forbids everything — loading/unloading too, parking too.

Exam questions on this topic

About Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban: which statement is WRONG?

  1. The book states explicitly: 'You may still stand still to load/unload or to let a passenger get in/out.'.
  2. It is exactly the reverse. Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban: standing still for loading/unloading or getting in/out is still allowed. Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban: that forbids EVERYTHING, including loading/unloading.
  3. A sign E1 or E2 alongside the road applies to both directions of travel / both sides of the road.
  4. With E2 'you may not stand still afterwards (and therefore not park either)' — with no exception for loading/unloading.
Show the answer

Correct answer: A sign E1 or E2 alongside the road applies to both directions of travel / both sides of the road.

'these signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand'. The opposite side can have a completely different situation

Why learners get this wrong: With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.

Open this question

On a rainy Tuesday evening, while loading furniture for a move in Bergen op Zoom, the removal van is parked next to a sign with TWO red stripes crossing each other. May the driver stand still here to load?

  1. No — two crossed stripes is sign E2, a standing-still ban, which also forbids loading/unloading
  2. Yes — that sign only forbids parking, loading/unloading is always allowed
Show the answer

Correct answer: No — two crossed stripes is sign E2, a standing-still ban, which also forbids loading/unloading

Two crossed stripes (a cross) is sign E2, not E1 — E2 forbids ALL standing still, including loading/unloading.

Why learners get this wrong: Sign E1 forbids all standing still (including loading/unloading), and sign E2 only forbids parking but still allows standing still.

Open this question

About Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban: which statements are correct? (multiple answers possible)

  1. With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.
  2. 'these signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand'. The opposite side can have a completely different situation.
  3. It is exactly the reverse. Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban: standing still for loading/unloading or getting in/out is still allowed. Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban: that forbids EVERYTHING, including loading/unloading.
  4. With sign E2, you may still briefly stand still to load/unload, as long as it is quick.
Show the answer

Correct answer: 'these signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand'. The opposite side can have a completely different situation.; It is exactly the reverse. Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban: standing still for loading/unloading or getting in/out is still allowed. Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban: that forbids EVERYTHING, including loading/unloading.

The book states explicitly: 'You may still stand still to load/unload or to let a passenger get in/out.' E1 forbids only parking

Why learners get this wrong: With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.

Open this question

About Sign E1 and E2: parking ban or standing-still ban: which statement is WRONG?

  1. With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.
  2. It is exactly the reverse. Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban: standing still for loading/unloading or getting in/out is still allowed. Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban: that forbids EVERYTHING, including loading/unloading.
  3. 'these signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand'. The opposite side can have a completely different situation.
  4. With E2 'you may not stand still afterwards (and therefore not park either)' — with no exception for loading/unloading.
Show the answer

Correct answer: With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.

The book states explicitly: 'You may still stand still to load/unload or to let a passenger get in/out.' E1 forbids only parking

Why learners get this wrong: Sign E1 forbids all standing still (including loading/unloading), and sign E2 only forbids parking but still allows standing still.

Open this question

In a street in Dronten there is a round blue sign on your side with a red border and two red bars that cross. You want to drop off a parcel there. What applies here?

  1. You may not park here, but you may stop briefly to unload
  2. You may not stop here, not even briefly to unload
  3. You may stop briefly here to unload, as long as it is quick
Show the answer

Correct answer: You may not stop here, not even briefly to unload

False — you mix up the two signs. One diagonal bar is no parking (brief loading and unloading allowed); the cross means no stopping, so unloading is not allowed either

Why learners get this wrong: Sign E1 forbids all standing still (including loading/unloading), and sign E2 only forbids parking but still allows standing still.

Open this question

Statement: with sign E1 (parking ban) you may no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger get in/out.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.

Open this question

In Culemborg two delivery vans stop to unload boxes. Van 1 is next to sign E1 (blue with a red border and one red diagonal stripe). Van 2 is next to sign E2 (blue with a red border and a red cross). Who may stay standing there like that?

  1. Van 1 and van 2 may both stop here briefly to unload
  2. Van 2 may briefly unload here, van 1 may not stop here
  3. Van 1 may unload here, van 2 may not stop here
Show the answer

Correct answer: Van 1 may unload here, van 2 may not stop here

False — You swap the two signs. One diagonal stripe (E1) is a parking ban: stopping briefly to load or unload is allowed. A cross (E2) means you may not stop there, so no unloading either

Why learners get this wrong: With sign E2, you may still briefly stand still to load/unload, as long as it is quick.

Open this question

In a shopping street in Monnickendam, on your side of the road, there is sign E1 with a sub-sign showing an arrow to the left. You are looking for a place to park your car. What applies here? (multiple answers possible)

  1. On the opposite side of the street you may not park here either
  2. With numbers on the sub-sign instead of an arrow, the ban would only apply on those days of the month
  3. On the opposite side of the street this sign does not apply
  4. The parking ban only applies in the direction the arrow points
Show the answer

Correct answer: With numbers on the sub-sign instead of an arrow, the ban would only apply on those days of the month; On the opposite side of the street this sign does not apply; The parking ban only applies in the direction the arrow points

False — You make the sign apply to both sides of the street. Sign E1 or E2 only applies to the side of the road where it stands; on the opposite side a completely different rule can apply

Why learners get this wrong: A sign E1 or E2 alongside the road applies to both directions of travel / both sides of the road.

Open this question

At the church in Schagen there is a sign with one red diagonal stripe on your side of the road. You want to stop there for two minutes to deliver a package at the front door. Is that allowed?

  1. Yes — one stripe only bans parking; briefly stopping to unload is allowed
  2. No — with one stripe you may not even stop briefly to deliver something
  3. No — one stripe bans stopping; with a cross only parking is banned
Show the answer

Correct answer: Yes — one stripe only bans parking; briefly stopping to unload is allowed

False — you swap the two signs. One diagonal stripe (E1) only bans parking; the cross (E2) also bans stopping.

Why learners get this wrong: With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out.

Open this question

On the wide road through Den Helder, sign E2 stands on one side. Statement: because the sign only stands there once, the ban automatically also applies to the other half of the road, on the opposite side.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: A sign E1 or E2 alongside the road applies to both directions of travel / both sides of the road.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘Sign E1 forbids all standing still (including loading/unloading), and sign E2 only forbids parking but still allows standing still’ – is that true?

No. It is exactly the reverse. Sign E1 (one diagonal stripe) = parking ban: standing still for loading/unloading or getting in/out is still allowed. Sign E2 (two crossed stripes, a cross) = standing-still ban: that forbids EVERYTHING, including loading/unloading

‘With sign E1, you may also no longer stand still to load/unload or let a passenger in/out’ – is that true?

No. The book states explicitly: 'You may still stand still to load/unload or to let a passenger get in/out.' E1 forbids only parking

‘With sign E2, you may still briefly stand still to load/unload, as long as it is quick’ – is that true?

No. With E2 'you may not stand still afterwards (and therefore not park either)' — with no exception for loading/unloading. E2 is stricter than E1, not equal to it

‘A sign E1 or E2 alongside the road applies to both directions of travel / both sides of the road’ – is that true?

No. 'these signs only apply to the side of the road where they stand'. The opposite side can have a completely different situation

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