Only in these situations are you allowed to use the emergency lane and this is the fine if you do it wrong | Car

The hard shoulder is normally deserted. And that’s a good thing, because the emergency services can quickly arrive on the scene in an emergency. You will see that if there is an emergency, the highway will immediately become clogged by a rapidly growing traffic jam.

The law is very clear: you may only use the emergency lane if you are in an emergency. This could be because you are unlucky, because you are not physically well or if your car has damage that prevents you from continuing. In all other cases, the emergency lane is for the emergency services, so that they can quickly reach their destination.

So you really have to have an acute need to stop on the emergency lane, so you cannot drive to the next exit or parking lot. That’s the first check. To start with this emergency: if small children or elderly people suddenly have to make a sanitary stop, you could stop on the hard shoulder if there is really no other option. Although it is of course better to look for a parking space.

In principle, suddenly developing bad weather is not a good reason to move to the hard shoulder. Adjusting your speed and keeping your distance on the highway is preferable. If it comes down to it, you will be spoken to by the officer on duty, but he will not simply fine you. Remember that if you park on the hard shoulder in bad weather, other road users may not see you. So turn on your hazard lights and, if possible, get out of the car and sit behind the guardrail.

On a number of highways the hard shoulder is in use for part of the day rush hour lane. You can see this from the green arrows that hang above the roadway. You may then use the emergency lane as a normal carriageway. In that case, you should use the lane as the rightmost lane. Many people seem to forget this, which means that a large part of the road is relatively empty.

The hard shoulder is certainly not intended for driving past a traffic jam, even if it means you get to the exit a little faster. Sometimes a traffic jam arises on an exit lane of the highway. What are you doing then? After all, you are not allowed to stand still on the highway itself and merging between the cars on the exit lane is not always easy. It often happens that motorists (who see it in time) join the emergency lane behind the exiting cars. This is absolutely not allowed and you risk a fine.

If you use the emergency lane when it is not necessary, you can expect a fine of €420 if you drive on the emergency lane and €280 if you stop on the emergency lane without a good reason.

If you really have to stop on the emergency lane, try to do so as safely as possible. Stop as far to the right as possible, with your wheels on the shoulder if possible. Not everyone continues to drive properly in their lane. Turn on your hazard lights and leave the car. It is best to sit behind your car and behind the guardrail with the other occupants. If your car is hit by another car, you are relatively safe.

If you have the option to choose where you park the car, make sure that you can also drive away easily. For example, avoid a pillar of a viaduct that narrows the emergency lane.

If you can drive away from the hard shoulder again, remember that the traffic is passing by at high speed. So, just like on a merge lane, make sure that you reach the speed of the other traffic and then merge if possible. Be sure to signal and use the mirrors to make sure no one is driving next to you.