Emergency vehicles, level crossings and buses: who you let go first
Emergency vehicles on an urgent task use blue lights and a two-tone horn, and you let them go first. At a level crossing you only drive on if you can cross straight away and clear it completely; trains always go first, and a flashing red light means stop. Inside built-up areas you let a bus pull away from a stop when it signals.
Emergency vehicles
Police, fire brigade, ambulance and other designated emergency services show they are on an urgent task with blue flashing lights and a two-tone horn (article 29); by day they may also flash their headlights. Road users must let such a priority vehicle go first (article 50). Make room calmly: move to the side where you can, do not brake suddenly in front of it, and watch for a second vehicle behind the first.
Yellow or green flashing lights belong to vehicles doing certain work, such as road works or recovery (article 30). They ask you to take care, but they do not make the vehicle a priority vehicle.
Level crossings
- Only drive onto a level crossing if you can drive straight on and clear it completely (article 15a). Never stop on the rails because of a queue on the other side.
- Trains always go first (article 15a).
- A flashing red light means stop; a flashing white light means no train is coming (article 71).
Buses pulling away
Inside built-up areas, when a bus signals with its indicator that it wants to pull away from a stop, you give it the chance to do so (article 56).
The exam trap: the barriers are up but the red light is still flashing. A flashing red light means stop, whatever the barriers do.
Trams, which also go first at junctions: trams in the Netherlands.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do when an emergency vehicle approaches?
Let it go first. Police, fire, ambulance and other emergency services on an urgent task use blue lights and a two-tone horn; make room in a safe way and do not brake suddenly.
When may I drive onto a level crossing?
Only if you can drive straight on and clear the crossing completely. You always let trains go first, and you stop at a flashing red light.
Do I have to let a bus pull away from a stop?
Inside built-up areas, yes: when a bus signals with its indicator that it wants to pull away from a stop, you give it the chance.
What do yellow or green flashing lights on a vehicle mean?
They are used by vehicles doing certain kinds of work, such as road works or breakdown recovery. They ask for care but do not give priority like blue lights do.
Sources, checked on 3 November 2026:
Written by Nawfal Serraji, traffic law specialist and founder of HaalTheorie.