Belgium’s long-awaited reform of its road rules will take effect later than planned. The new road code will now come into force on 1 June 2027, or nine months after the previously announced date.
According to the Road Safety Institute Vias, the delay stems not from political disagreement over the reform itself, but from coordination and administrative bottlenecks between federal and regional authorities.
In contrast to the current code, which applies uniformly throughout the country, the rules now adhere to four separate regulations: federal, as the primary authority, supplemented by Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels’ amendments.
More time than expected
Officials cite coordination issues between federal and regional authorities, the need to clarify and revise certain parts of the new texts, and practical concerns about implementing the rules on the ground. Police forces, driving schools, road managers, and software providers all require additional time to adapt to the changes. In contrast, some road signs and legal references still require correction before the overhaul can take effect.
The revised code is already available online; however, each version will be updated again in the coming months to correct inconsistencies and formally adjust the implementation date. Until then, the old date of September 1, 2026, remains written into the legal text.
Shared space
When Belgium’s current traffic rules were introduced fifty years ago (1975), the private car was still seen as the unquestioned master of the road. The new version marks a cultural shift: pedestrians, cyclists, and users of light electric vehicles will take center stage.
Under the reform, pedestrians will be allowed to cross diagonally at junctions when the light turns green, and pavements must always leave at least 1.5 metres of clear passage. Riders of e-scooters and speed pedelecs will be formally integrated into the traffic code with their own speed and overtaking rules.
No more alternate parking
Motorists will face a raft of changes, too. The outdated system of alternating parking, which required drivers to switch sides of the street every two weeks, will be eliminated. Stopping or parking on cycle lanes, tram routes, or bus corridors will be explicitly banned.
The reform also tightens the rules on seat belt use: drivers will be held co-responsible if front passengers are unbelted. Dipped headlights will become mandatory in conditions of poor visibility, even during daytime, and hazard lights will be required after an accident.
Gender-neutral symbols
Belgium’s road signs, many of which have remained unchanged since the 1970s, will be redesigned for greater clarity. New pictograms will feature gender-neutral figures, white contrast borders for better visibility, and symbols for cargo bikes, horses, fog, and unpaved shoulders. Yet these signs can only appear once the new code officially applies in 2027.
Federal mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke insists the reform must remain adaptable. “Mobility is evolving faster than legislation,” he said, citing future technologies such as autonomous vehicles and connected transport. “Our task is to ensure the new code remains robust and flexible enough to protect all road users.”
