Home › Blog › Zebra crossing: when must you stop for a pedestrian?

Zebra crossing: when must you stop for a pedestrian?

By Mustafa Aybek · maker of Rijtheorie Hub · sources: RVV 1990, cbr.nl · last updated 2026-09-07

At a zebra crossing it all comes down to one word: kennelijk (clearly). As soon as a pedestrian clearly wants to cross, you must let them go first. If they are already on the zebra, you must anyway.

Animation from the app: Pedestrian on the zebra crossing

Pedestrians crossing at a zebra crossing (white stripes on the road) or clearly wanting to cross must always be let go first.

The white stripes are a royal carpet for the pedestrian. If someone hesitates with one foot at the edge, you roll the carpet out: you stop, and the walker strolls across like royalty past your waiting bonnet.

Exception: The trap: without a zebra crossing a pedestrian has no automatic priority — but you must still give them the chance and may never endanger them. And watch extra for children and the elderly who suddenly step into the road.

Animation from the app: Pedestrian waiting at a zebra crossing

If a pedestrian is clearly about to step onto the crossing, you let them go.

The law does not wait until someone is already in the road. Eye contact, a step forward, a glance your way — that is 'clearly about to', and then it is your turn to brake.

Exception: The duty falls away if a red pedestrian light or an amber flashing light applies to the pedestrian.

Blind or partially sighted pedestrian

Animation from the app: Blind pedestrian with a white cane

You give way to a blind person with a white cane anywhere — not only at a crossing.

This is a separate, wider rule than the zebra rule: it attaches to the person, not to a crossing. A white cane with red rings, or anyone who moves with difficulty: you wait.

Exception: The rule binds every driver, so it applies when you are cycling too.

The zebra crossing (pedestrian crossing)

Give way to pedestrians crossing or clearly about to cross.

Stop if needed; wait until they safely reach the other side
Also applies to disabled-persons vehicles (mobility scooter, wheelchair)
'Clearly about to cross' already counts
Approach a zebra slowly, ready to stop in time
No overtaking just before a zebra
In Amsterdam often behind a junction or across tram tracks

Exceptions and pitfalls

Cyclists and mopeds riding across the zebra have NO priority; only pedestrians and disabled-persons vehicles count. A cyclist who dismounts and crosses on foot becomes a pedestrian, and then you must give way.
The zebra gives no absolute 'right' to just step into the road, yet you as the driver are liable the moment someone clearly wants to cross — expect mistakes from children and tourists who don't look left and right.
When you turn and the zebra crosses the road you are turning into, as turning traffic you must give way to crossing pedestrians anyway, even where there is no zebra at all.
At a zebra that runs across tram tracks, an approaching tram cannot stop quickly; pedestrians are asked to watch for the tram, but you as the car driver still must stop for the people on the crossing.
Never stop halfway so that you end up standing on the tram track or the cycle path; in Amsterdam that blocks the tram or the entire flow of cyclists.

Want to practise? Try the free questions on vulnerable road users, with an explanation for every answer.

Practise this with 2,609 questions and 19 animations

Rijtheorie Hub practises exactly like the CBR exam: 50 questions, 30 minutes, pass with 44. Free to try, in 12 languages.

Download free