Many People Make This Mistake on the Theory Exam
Do you know when you are allowed to use a hatched road area (verdrijvingsvlak)? If you don’t know this during your theory exam, it could easily cause you to fail. It’s a question that many students get wrong.
As a course instructor at Nutheorie, I see this topic come up often. A hatched road area — the white section on the road with diagonal stripes — may look simple, but the exception to the rule is what causes confusion. And that exact exception is often asked on the CBR theory exam.
In this article, we clearly explain what a hatched road area is, when you absolutely cannot use it, and the one situation in which it is allowed.
A hatched road area is a white section on the road marked with diagonal stripes. It is used to separate traffic flows and to keep drivers away from dangerous parts of the road.
You will often see hatched road areas at:
The purpose of this marking is simple: to guide traffic and prevent dangerous situations.
Many drivers think you can sometimes use a hatched area, but in most situations this is not allowed. The rules are very clear.
On a hatched road area you are not allowed to:
The marking exists specifically to keep traffic away from that part of the road.
A common misconception is that you can drive onto a hatched area to make space for an ambulance with flashing lights and sirens.
This is not allowed.
You may not drive over the hatched area to move aside. However, the ambulance itself is allowed to use the hatched area to overtake traffic if necessary.
There is one important exception.
You may only use a hatched road area when a rush-hour lane (spitsstrook) is open.
When the rush-hour lane is open, the hatched area temporarily becomes a regular traffic lane. This is indicated by a green arrow above the road.
If you see a green arrow above the hatched area, it means:
In all other situations, you must always stay off the hatched area.
If you get the following question on the theory exam:
“When are you allowed to use a hatched road area?”
The correct answer is: Only when it is part of an open rush-hour lane.
The theory exam contains many trick questions like this. They often sound logical, but the rules work slightly differently than people expect.
During our in-person and online courses at Nutheorie, we explain the theory in a way that helps you truly understand the rules. This means you won’t have to guess during your exam.
That way, you can go into your CBR theory exam with confidence and increase your chances of passing on the first try.
You are only allowed to drive on a hatched road area (verdrijvingsvlak) when it temporarily becomes part of an open rush-hour lane (spitsstrook). This is indicated by a green arrow above the road. In all other situations, drivers must stay off the hatched area.
A hatched road area is designed to separate traffic flows and keep vehicles away from dangerous parts of the road. These markings are often placed near motorway exits, lane splits, and merging lanes to improve traffic safety and prevent accidents.
No, you are not allowed to drive on a hatched road area to move aside for an ambulance with flashing lights and sirens. However, emergency vehicles such as ambulances are allowed to use the hatched area themselves to overtake traffic if necessary.
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