Bus pulling away from a stop: inside and outside built-up areas
A bus pulling away from a stop is a classic exam question, because the rule differs inside and outside built-up areas.
Inside a built-up area: a scheduled bus that signals to pull away from a stop must be let go first.
In town the heavy bus is like a big brother clumsily heaving himself out of his parking bay. The moment his indicator blinks, you give a calm wave and let the giant merge in gently.
Exception: The trap: this only applies INSIDE the built-up area. Outside town you do NOT have to let a departing bus go. And while you must give him the chance, the bus may not force danger — you slow down, but you needn't slam the brakes.
Outside the built-up area you do NOT have to let a departing bus pull out.
This is the mirror image of the previous lesson, which is exactly why it sticks: same bus, same indicator, different sign at the roadside. Inside the built-up area you let it out; outside you do not.
Exception: Cooperating is of course always allowed; it is simply not a duty. And the bus driver may not create danger outside the built-up area either.
Priority vehicles and the bus pulling away from a stop
A priority vehicle only has priority with both the blue flashing light AND the siren.
- Priority only with blue flashing light AND siren (Article 50)
- Blue light alone = no priority, normal rules apply
- Make room: move right, slow down or stop
- May cross a red light only if it is safe
- Built-up area: let a departing line bus merge (Article 43)
- Outside the built-up area the bus has no priority
Exceptions and pitfalls
- Only when it shows BOTH the blue flashing light AND the siren at the same time is it a priority vehicle; a flashing light alone = NO priority.
- Making room is allowed, but not dangerously: running a red light or crossing a stop line to make room only if it can be done safely — otherwise wait.
- The bus priority applies ONLY inside the built-up area, and only if the bus indicates AND actually pulls away from the stop.
- Outside the built-up area the departing bus has NO priority — then normal 'who went first' applies.
- You remain responsible for your own manoeuvre; swerving blindly and causing a collision is on you.
- In Amsterdam trams and buses often pull away abruptly at stops — even if you formally have priority, anticipate and keep your distance.
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