The model
In a traffic jam (Book p.167): no lane changes, keep distance, leave room for filtering motorcyclists, engine off when stationary for a long time, stay in the car, follow traffic information. Hazard lights go on when you come to a stop in the jam, and go off again once the vehicles behind have slowed down. In a breakdown (Book p.168): as far right as possible, exit on the right, safety vest, wait behind the crash barrier, call roadside assistance with your location via the hectometre marker.
Read this section on its own page: The model: Traffic-jam behaviour and breakdowns: clearing space and getting yourself to safety
Core
In a traffic jam six behaviour rules apply at once (Book p.167): you do not change lanes, you keep your distance, you leave room for motorcyclists filtering between the rows, you switch off the engine when stationary for a long time, you stay in the car, and you follow traffic information via the radio or navigation. The hazard lights follow their own timing, separate from the length of the jam: they go on the moment you unexpectedly come upon the jam, and go off again once the vehicles behind have slowed down or noticed — not for the whole jam. On the rescue corridor, the book states only the general duty: if there is no hard shoulder, you clear space for emergency services. A fixed formation (for example 'left lane goes left, the rest goes right') is not part of this teaching material — you apply the general duty to whatever situation arises, without a memorised pattern. In a breakdown on the road, the order is: as far right as possible, preferably the verge; exit on the right; put on the safety vest; wait behind the crash barrier; and call roadside assistance with your location using the hectometre marker — the small sign with distance and road number along the hard shoulder.
Read this section on its own page: Core: Traffic-jam behaviour and breakdowns: clearing space and getting yourself to safety
Why it matters
Filtering motorcyclists deliberately use the space between lanes so they do not get stuck themselves — suddenly changing lanes hits them hardest. In a breakdown, exiting on the right, behind the crash barrier, is precisely because the carriageway side of a stationary car on the hard shoulder is the side where passing traffic would hit you first.
Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Traffic-jam behaviour and breakdowns: clearing space and getting yourself to safety
Source: RVV 1990 art. 10 · RVV 1990 art. 43 · checked 2026-10-22
Test yourself
On the A16 near Zwijndrecht traffic suddenly comes to a stop. In your rear-view mirror you see the cars behind you also slowing down. What do you now do with your hazard lights?
Show the answer
In a traffic jam (Book p.167): no lane changes, keep distance, leave room for filtering motorcyclists, engine off when stationary for a long time, stay in the car, follow traffic information. Hazard lights go on when you come to a stop in the jam, and go off again once the vehicles behind have slowed down. In a breakdown (Book p.168): as far right as possible, exit on the right, safety vest, wait behind the crash barrier, call roadside assistance with your location via the hectometre marker.
Frequently asked questions
‘In a traffic jam you must always make room for emergency services according to a fixed formation, the far-left lane moving left, the rest moving right’ – is that true?
No. The book only requires that you make room for emergency services when there is no hard shoulder; a fixed left/right formation is not part of this teaching material
‘Once you are in a traffic jam, you keep the hazard lights on for as long as you are stationary’ – is that true?
No. The hazard lights go on when you come to a stop in the jam and go OFF again once the vehicles behind have slowed or noticed — not for the whole jam
‘In case of a breakdown on the motorway, it is best to stay in the car until roadside assistance arrives, just as in a traffic jam’ – is that true?
No. In a breakdown you do get out: on the right, wearing a safety vest, waiting behind the crash barrier. 'Stay in the car' applies to stationary traffic-jam traffic, not to a breakdown on or next to the hard shoulder
‘When calling roadside assistance, you only need to say which motorway you are on; they will find the exact location themselves’ – is that true?
No. You report your location using the hectometre marker, the small sign with distance and road number along the hard shoulder
‘In a long traffic jam you may briefly get out to see what is going on’ – is that true?
No. In the jam you stay in the car; you follow traffic information via the radio/navigation, not by getting out