Section 5

The use of the different lanes of the road.

If a road has special lanes for different types of traffic, drivers must use the lane intended for vehicles of that type.

Creep track.

Is a special lane that is signposted for slow-moving traffic. Where creep lanes are provided, they must be used by vehicles travelling at a lower speed than that indicated on the traffic sign at the creep lane.

Location on the road.

Drivers must keep as far to the right as possible, taking into account other traffic and other conditions. The distance to the vehicle in front must be adjusted so that there is no risk of collision if the vehicle in front stops or its speed is reduced.
Vehicles subject to a special speed limit must, outside densely built-up areas, also maintain such a distance from the vehicle in front that overtaking vehicles can safely pass between such a vehicle and the vehicle in front. Vehicles used for roadworks may be driven with due care as necessary for the purpose of the work.

A tractor usually has a poorer braking performance than a car, so it is necessary to keep a particularly good distance to the vehicle in front. An easy-to-remember rule could be that you should always keep a distance that corresponds to one tractor length per 10 km/h, i.e. 3 tractor lengths when driving in a queue at 30 km/h. This will give you time to react and brake if the driver in front suddenly slows down or stops abruptly. Also remember that when driving on a narrow or winding road with a particularly wide vehicle, you should pay special attention to drivers behind you and facilitate their overtaking by slowing down or pulling over or coming to a complete stop.

Swivelling and more.

In good time before an intersection, where the carriageway has two or more lanes reserved for traffic travelling in the same direction, drivers must move to the rightmost lane if turning right and to the leftmost lane if turning left. Those travelling straight ahead may move to the lane that is the most appropriate, taking into account other traffic and the continuation of the journey.

When it's necessary to turn left, make sure the side mirrors are out so you can orientate yourself backwards in good time. When it's clear, signal clearly with your indicators or with your arm and then pull into the centre of the lane. Only when it is completely clear from the front may you complete the turn. Before turning left, it can be an advantage to pull all the way out to the right and let oncoming cars pass so that your "back is clear". If the load is so large that you don't have a clear view to the rear, you'll need a helper to wave to you when it's clear to turn.

You don't always have a helper like this when you need him. In an emergency, you can let the nose of the tractor protrude slightly to the left of the load to give those behind you time to react. You can then turn the tractor a little further to the left so you can see behind you before completing the turn.

Driving at bus stops and more.

Drivers approaching a bus stop in a densely built-up area where a bus has stopped must, if the driver of the bus gives the signal to start, reduce speed and, if necessary, stop so that the bus can leave the stop. However, this does not exempt the driver of the bus from exercising special care to avoid danger.

School bus signposting.

School buses are labelled at the front and rear with the sign "children" supplemented by two yellow lights. When the lights are flashing while the school bus is stationary, pay special attention to children crossing the carriageway to and from the bus. Slow down and move your foot to the brake.

Overtaking.

Obviously, the amount of overtaking you'll be doing with a tractor is quite limited, but it's still important to know the rules in order to drive safely when overtaking others.

As a tractor driver, you must pay special attention to those coming from behind and be careful to drive according to the rules that apply to those being overtaken. Overtaking must be done to the left. However, overtaking must be done to the right of a vehicle if the driver is turning left or clearly preparing to do so. Cyclists and unregistered mopeds may overtake vehicles of other types on the right. Drivers wishing to overtake must ensure that they can do so safely, including:

1) the lane in which the overtaking manoeuvre is to take place is free of oncoming traffic for a sufficiently long distance and that there is no other obstacle to overtaking,
2) the vehicle in front does not signal to overtake another vehicle,
3) that vehicles coming from behind have not started overtaking and
4) that, except in cases where overtaking takes place in a lane where oncoming traffic is not permitted, it is undoubtedly possible after overtaking to re-enter the flow of traffic without causing inconvenience to it.

When a driver in front becomes aware that someone coming from behind wants to overtake on the left, they must keep as far to the right as possible and must not increase their speed.

If a vehicle is travelling at low speed or takes up a lot of space and the roadway is narrow or winding, or there is oncoming traffic, the driver must pay particular attention to traffic coming from behind. If it makes overtaking easier, the driver must reduce speed and, if necessary, move the vehicle to the side as soon as possible and stop completely if necessary.

The overtaking driver must keep sufficient distance to the side between their vehicle and the vehicle being overtaken. If overtaking on the left, the overtaking driver must keep to the right as soon as this can be done without danger or inconvenience. Remember to pay attention to the extra distance if you are driving with a trailer. However, the vehicle does not need to be brought back into the right lane if the overtaking driver intends to overtake another vehicle immediately after overtaking and the conditions for overtaking are otherwise met. Vehicles used for roadworks may, with due care, be overtaken in the most appropriate manner.

Prohibition of overtaking.

Overtaking is not allowed:

1) Immediately in front of or at intersections, unless:
a) vehicles are placed in lanes reserved for traffic travelling in the same direction
b) Overtaking must be done on the right to avoid a vehicle turning left,
c) traffic at the intersection is regulated by police or signalling; or
d) traffic on the crossing road has an unconditional right of way

2) Immediately in front of or on a level crossing, or
3) when visibility in front of or around hills or bends is restricted, unless the carriageway in the direction of travel has at least two lanes where oncoming traffic is not permitted
4) in front of or on a pedestrian crossing where there is not full visibility.

The prohibition does not apply when overtaking two-wheeled bicycles and two-wheeled mopeds not subject to registration.

Overtaking and lane changing in heavy traffic.

If traffic is dense and travelling in several rows at a speed determined by those in front, it is not considered overtaking if a vehicle in one lane passes a vehicle in another lane.

If a vehicle in a lane marked for a certain type of traffic passes or is passed by a vehicle in another lane not reserved for this type of traffic, this is not considered overtaking.

Overtaking and lane changing in heavy traffic.

If traffic is dense and travelling in several rows at a speed determined by those in front, it is not considered overtaking if a vehicle in one lane passes a vehicle in another lane.

If a vehicle in a lane marked for a certain type of traffic passes or is passed by a vehicle in another lane not reserved for this type of traffic, this is not considered overtaking.

Accidents and risk conditions.

When changing lanes or otherwise changing the position of the vehicle to the side, drivers must ensure that the manoeuvre can be performed without danger or undue inconvenience to others. The same applies when the driver wants to stop or quickly reduce speed. Where the number of lanes reserved for traffic travelling in the same direction is reduced, drivers must, with mutual consideration, adapt their driving to the changed conditions, including by changing speed if necessary. The same applies when two lanes merge. Risk factors that you should pay special attention to before changing lanes are the following:

- Inadequate orientation backwards in the lane you want to change to, including lack of blind spot control.

- Misjudging the speed and distance of people coming from behind.

Dedicated lanes and turning lanes must be used immediately at the beginning of the lane. In places where the number of lanes is reduced or where two lanes merge, there are two different rules to follow, either the lane change rule or the merge rule. On the lane lines you can see which of the two rules applies.

1. if the lane line is extended all the way to the road narrowing where the right lane is blocked, the lane change rule applies. This means that you may only change lanes if it can be done without danger or undue inconvenience.

2. If the lane line stops some distance before the narrowing, the merge rule applies. This means that you must adapt your speed to the drivers next to you and utilise an appropriately large gap to merge.

3. "Lane change arrows" indicates that you should change to the lane the arrows are pointing to as soon as possible.

The sign shows that the merge rule applies. When driving in the merge lane (acceleration lane), you must adapt your speed to the traffic in the lane you need to continue in and leave the merge lane when you can do so without causing danger or undue inconvenience. If you are travelling in the lane that the traffic from the access lane is to exit, you must facilitate the exit from the access lane, if necessary you must reduce your speed.

Traffic signs that matter when you want to change lanes.

"Narrow lane" warns that you may need to change lanes soon "Creeper lane" always means that you must change lanes to the creeper lane. Where the creep lane ends, the lane change rule usually applies, otherwise traffic signs indicate otherwise. "Merge" indicates that the merge rule applies ahead. If there are no lane lines on the sign, the merge rule applies ahead. If there are lane lines on the board, the lane change rule applies.

1. Narrowed carriageway.
2. Narrowed lane on the right side.
3. Narrowed carriageway on the left side.
4. Merging.
5. Carriageway sequence with merging.
6. Lane guidance with lane changes.
7. Carriageway sequence with merging.
8. Creep track.

How to orientate yourself before changing lanes.

1) Begin the orientation well before the lane change so that the manoeuvre is not nervously forced or that you are forced to stop for oncoming traffic. Use turn signals.

2) Look behind you in mirrors and when turning your head, but don't forget to look for possible obstacles ahead in your own lane.

3) Judge whether a stay behind is large enough to change lanes without causing danger or undue inconvenience.

Right of way and more.

Drivers should take special care at intersections.

- When entering or crossing a road, the driver must give way to traffic travelling on both sides (unconditional right of way) if this is indicated by signs and markings.

- Unconditional right of way also applies when leaving a car park, property or plot of land, petrol station or similar off-road area, from a path, pedestrian street, field road or similar, and for any exit from a road over a pavement, cycle path or verge that is raised above the carriageway on the road being driven on.

1. Dangerous intersection.
2. Light signal.
3. Main road.
4. Main road ends.
5. Unconditional right of way.
6. Stop at road junctions.
7. Bi-directional cycle path.

Right turn right of way.

If there are no drivers with an unconditional right of way at an intersection, everyone has the right of way for each other. The 4 images below show situations with mandatory right of way. Note that there are no right of way signs or shark teeth at these intersections.

You need to pay special attention to bi-directional cycle paths, partly because they are quite rare. On bi-directional cycle paths, cyclists and moped riders are allowed to travel in both directions on the same cycle path. This means you need to look out for two-wheelers in both directions and hold back for them before continuing straight ahead or turning.

In other cases, when drivers are travelling in such a way that their directions of travel intersect, the driver of the vehicle that has the other vehicle on its right has the right of way (right turn).

- Drivers who are obliged to give way must clearly indicate their intention to do so by reducing speed or stopping in good time. Driving may only continue when it can be done without danger or inconvenience, taking into account the position of other vehicles on the road, the distance to them and their speed.

- Drivers approaching or entering intersections must drive so as not to cause unnecessary inconvenience to traffic on the crossing road if they are forced to stop at the intersection. At intersections where traffic is regulated by traffic signals, the driver may not enter the intersection, even if the signal shows a green light, if the driver realises that, due to the traffic conditions at the location, it will not be possible to leave the intersection before the signal has changed to green light for crossing traffic.

When judging from the side window when you can proceed over the shark fences, pay special attention to vehicles whose speed is easily underestimated. This is especially true for motorcyclists (not to be confused with mopeds).

Many accidents are caused when the tractor has to cross a major road or when turning left from a minor road or field road onto a major road. You probably know that you have an unconditional right of way when you meet the stop sign, the triangular sign at the apex or the yield line (shark fences) on the road. You probably also know that you have an unconditional right of way when you drive off a farm or field road onto a major road.

When things go wrong, it's often because you miscalculate and think you can reach a gap between cars.

But a tractor is slow-moving and the load can be long. That's why you need to calculate an extra-long safety distance so that you can get all the way across the road or up to speed if you turn into the road before the fast cars arrive.

You must carefully judge the location, distance and speed of other road users.

When you're at an intersection waiting to cross, you might want to use this rule of thumb:

If you're in a densely built-up area, it's realistic to expect cars approaching from the sides at 50 km/h. This corresponds to about 15 m/sec or 100 metres in about 7 seconds. When the cars are about 200 metres away, it will take about 14 seconds for them to reach the junction. If you're quick to start and accelerate, you'll be able to reach the other side without being at a disadvantage. However, if you stop to cross a country road, you should expect cars approaching from the sides at around 80 km/h. This equates to around 24 m/sec or 100 metres in 4 seconds, making it impossible to cross the road safely enough.

Swivelling and more.

In good time before an intersection, where the carriageway has two or more lanes reserved for traffic travelling in the same direction, drivers must move to the rightmost lane if turning right and to the leftmost lane if turning left. Those travelling straight ahead may move to the lane that is the most appropriate, taking into account other traffic and the continuation of the journey.

A roundabout is a one-way street or road that happens to be curved. When exiting between the first and last side road of the roundabout, you must choose the lane that best suits the current traffic conditions. Then change to the right lane and signal as you would when exiting on the last side road of the roundabout. Remember to hold back for cyclists and moped riders before exiting.

Obligations to pedestrians.

Drivers must give pedestrians time to give way and otherwise give pedestrians the necessary space. You must give way to pedestrians when driving over pavements, when exiting a property, when entering or crossing pedestrian streets, and when driving on pedestrian streets you must show special care and consideration.

When turning at intersections, you must not endanger pedestrians crossing the carriageway. When approaching a pedestrian crossing that is not regulated, adjust your speed so that you do not endanger or inconvenience pedestrians who are in the crossing or about to enter it. If necessary, you must stop to let pedestrians pass.

At pedestrian crossings where traffic is controlled by e.g. traffic lights and you have a green light in your direction of travel, you must yield to pedestrians in the crossing who are crossing the carriageway. This could be pedestrians who entered the pedestrian crossing immediately before the signal changed, or it could be people who have difficulty walking.

After turning at a controlled intersection, you must drive at an appropriately low speed and hold back for pedestrians in or entering the pedestrian crossing. Avoid stopping in a pedestrian crossing as far as possible. If you are queuing in such a place and need to stop, do not stop in the pedestrian crossing but before it.

Traffic lights at intersections.

"Main signals" are the most commonly known form of light signal.