Contents
The Highway Code (Code de la route), the Royal Decree of 1 December 1975, is almost fifty years old and has been amended more than a hundred times since. Even lawyers do not always find it easy to follow as a whole. It will therefore be replaced entirely by the Federal Public Road Code (Code fédéral de la voie publique), supplemented by the Brussels Public Road Code (Code bruxellois de la voie publique), the Flemish road code (Vlaamse wegcode) and the Walloon Public Road Code (Code wallon de la voie publique).
The new rules were originally due to come into force on 1 September 2026. That date has been postponed: the new Code applies from 1 June 2027. Until then, the Royal Decree of 1 December 1975 continues to apply. From 1 June 2027, it is replaced by the Federal Public Road Code, the Brussels Public Road Code, the Flemish road code and the Walloon Public Road Code. In this article, we set out the main changes. It complements our overview of traffic offences, their degrees and the procedure.
Why a new code?
The reform aims to help every road user, whatever their age or training, better understand what is expected of them. The rules are therefore:
- arranged by type of road user, so that a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist can find more quickly what applies to them;
- grouped together, for example all priority rules in one place and a uniform structure for pedestrian zones, residential zones and cycle zones;
- aligned with the Vienna Convention, with internationally recognisable symbols instead of text on signs.
The legislator also wants to share the public road more fairly between cars and vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists. The car is no longer the standard to which everything is adapted.
When does the new code come into force?
| Regulation | Status |
|---|---|
| Federal Public Road Code | Royal Decree of 3 June 2024, published on 20 September 2024 |
| Flemish road code (Vlaamse wegcode) | Decree of the Flemish Government of 19 July 2024 |
| Brussels Public Road Code | Decree of the Government of the Brussels-Capital Region of 29 August 2024 |
| Walloon Public Road Code | Decree of the Walloon Government of 17 July 2025 |
| Entry into force | Postponed from 1 September 2026 to 1 June 2027 |
The postponement was settled at federal level by a Royal Decree of 30 June 2026, which also made some substantive changes at the same time. The regions are following with their own decrees.
The main new rules
For pedestrians
- A side distance of at least 1 metre in built-up areas and 1.5 metres outside built-up areas between a moving vehicle and a pedestrian, cyclist or horse rider.
- Where two-wheelers may park on the pavement, a clear passage of at least 1.5 metres must remain.
- Crossing diagonally is allowed when all pedestrian lights are green at the same time.
- In the evening, a group of pedestrians can also be made visible by each participant wearing a high-visibility vest, instead of using lights at the front and back.
For mopeds
- Class B mopeds must ride on the carriageway where the speed limit is 50 km/h or less.
For motorcyclists
- The ban on overtaking now also applies to overtaking motorcycles.
For motorists
- Alternate-side parking by half-month disappears.
- An adult passenger not wearing a seatbelt can be fined personally.
- In the event of a breakdown or accident, hazard warning lights are mandatory. If they do not work, a warning triangle must be placed.
- The high-visibility vest in the event of a breakdown also becomes mandatory on expressways (routes pour automobiles) and in tunnels, not just on motorways.
- The ban on stopping is extended to, among other places, tram crossings, disabled parking spaces, bus lanes, parts of the road reserved for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, roundabouts and tactile paving for blind people. Where previously only parking was prohibited, stopping will then also be prohibited.
- Overtaking a vehicle that is itself overtaking is prohibited when the first vehicle being overtaken is a motorcycle, bicycle or moped.
- The Royal Decree of 30 June 2026 abolishes the minimum speed of 70 km/h on motorways and prohibits vehicle repairs on the motorway.
- The ban on using a mobile phone without a holder is kept and now also applies to the person accompanying a learner driver. Read our article on using a mobile phone while driving.
New road signs
Road signs are being modernised and made more visible:
- new warning signs, including for fog, traffic jams, accidents and horse riders;
- new symbols, such as a cargo bike and shared mobility devices;
- additional signs in black on white instead of white on blue;
- gender-neutral figures;
- a new category of zone signs with special rules for areas such as school surroundings, pedestrian zones, residential zones and cycle zones, on which the permitted speed can be shown.
Transitional period
The signs will not all be replaced at once. Until 1 January 2045, most old signs keep their meaning, so that road authorities can replace them gradually. Shorter periods apply to certain signs and markings, for example the old cycle street signs and bus lane markings.
What changes for pending cases?
For offences committed before 1 June 2027, the 1975 Highway Code continues to apply. For offences from that date, the new Code applies, with new article numbers. Since offences by degree are currently linked by royal decree to the articles of the old Highway Code, that list will also have to be updated. We are following this and will update our articles as soon as the new classification is known.
Nothing changes for the procedure, the immediate payment (perception immédiate), the out-of-court settlement (transaction pénale) and the police court (tribunal de police): these matters are set out in the Road Traffic Act (loi relative à la police de la circulation routière), not in the Highway Code.
Frequently asked questions
When does the new Public Road Code come into force?
On 1 June 2027. It was originally planned for 1 September 2026, but that date was postponed by a Royal Decree of 30 June 2026. Until 1 June 2027, the Royal Decree of 1 December 1975 (the Highway Code) continues to apply; it is then replaced by the Federal Code, the Brussels Code, the Flemish road code and the Walloon Public Road Code. For old road signs, a transitional period runs until 1 January 2045.
What distance must I keep from a cyclist?
Under the new Code, when you overtake a pedestrian, cyclist or horse rider, you must keep a side distance of at least 1 metre in built-up areas and 1.5 metres outside built-up areas. If there is not enough room, you must wait until you can overtake safely.
Will my passenger be fined for not wearing a seatbelt?
Under the new Code, an adult passenger who does not wear a seatbelt can be fined personally. As the driver, you remain responsible for passengers under 18.
What should I do if I break down on the road?
Under the new Code, you must switch on your hazard warning lights in the event of a breakdown or accident. If they do not work, you place a warning triangle. On motorways, expressways and in tunnels, you must also wear a high-visibility vest when you leave your vehicle.
Have your case reviewed
Do you have a question about a traffic offence under the current or new rules? We check which rule applies to your case. Contact us.
Law as at 30 September 2026. We update this article when the rules change.
Related articles
Traffic offences in Belgium: degrees, fines and procedure explained
What happens after a traffic offence in Belgium? The four degrees, immediate payment, out-of-court settlement, payment order, municipal fines and the police court.
Calculating a traffic fine in Belgium: fixed amounts, surcharge multipliers and ability to pay
How is a Belgian traffic fine calculated? Fixed amounts for immediate payment, the surcharge multiplier before the police judge, your income and paying in instalments.
Payment order: appealing to the police court
A registered letter with a payment order? What it is, the deadline for an appeal, how to go about it and what risks you take.