Sub-signs

What is a sub-sign?

A sub-sign is a small rectangular sign below a traffic sign. It belongs to the sign above it and changes or explains the rule of that sign. This is in article 67 of the RVV 1990. A sub-sign can:

Explain. It says what the sign means. Under the warning sign "danger" (J37) the sub-sign says which danger.

Make an exception. Does it say "uitgezonderd" (except) with symbols? Then the sign does not apply to those road users.

Limit it to certain vehicles. Are there only symbols, without "uitgezonderd"? Then the sign applies only to those road users.

Limit it to certain times. Are there days or hours on it? Then the sign only applies at those times.

Give a distance or length. A number in metres or kilometres says how far it still is, or over what length the sign applies.

Rules for reading sub-signs

From top to bottom. The top sign gives the rule, the sub-sign adds to it. If there are several sub-signs, they all count.

This is how you read this example. You have no parking permit:

• Tuesday at 14:00: you may not park here.
• Tuesday at 22:00: the ban does not apply. You may park here.
• Sunday: the ban does not apply all day.

Do you have a permit for this place? Then the ban never applies to you.

Look closely at the symbols. Only a symbol means "only for this group". "Uitgezonderd" with a symbol means "for everyone except this group".

Only a symbol	"Uitgezonderd" with a symbol
The parking ban applies only to lorries. In a car you may park here.	Entry is forbidden for everyone except cars. So the learner car may enter.

Times on the sub-sign say when the sign applies. Outside those times the sign does not apply.

At 12:00 you may not park here. At 19:00 you may: the ban does not apply then. If there are no days on the sub-sign, the times apply every day.

Sub-sign with arrows: what does it mean?

A white sub-sign with a number and arrows is a length. The sign applies from the sign, over that distance. Is there a number without arrows? Then it is a distance: the sign above only applies after that distance.

Sub-signs you often meet in the CBR exam

"Uitgezonderd" with a bicycle and a moped under a one-way sign or no-entry sign: cyclists and moped riders may ride against the direction. What that means for you is on the page about the one-way street sign.

"Uitgezonderd bestemmingsverkeer" (except destination traffic) under a closure: only people who need to be on that road may enter. Who counts as destination traffic is on the page about prohibition signs.

A no-parking sign with a sub-sign, for example with times or a lorry: the ban then only applies at those times, or only to lorries. More on the page about parking signs.

A time, such as "6-19h": common on motorways, where 100 km/h often only applies between 6 and 19 h. See speed on the motorway.

A lorry under a sign: the sign only applies to lorries, like the mandatory direction above.

The course of the priority road: under a priority sign a sub-sign shows which way the priority road goes. See priority junctions.

CBR traps with sub-signs

❌ Wrong: thinking you may not enter the road at all at a no-entry sign with "500 m" below it. ✅ Right: without arrows the ban only starts after that distance. Up to that point you may enter the road, for example to reach a side street or a driveway.

❌ Wrong: reading a sub-sign with only a symbol as an exception. ✅ Right: without the word "uitgezonderd" the sign applies only to that group.

❌ Wrong: not noticing the arrows next to the number. ✅ Right: with arrows the sign applies now, over that length. Without arrows only after that distance.

❌ Wrong: following a sign with a time on its sub-sign all day. ✅ Right: outside the time on the sub-sign the sign does not apply.

❌ Wrong: only looking at the top sign. ✅ Right: always read down to the last sub-sign. That is often where the exception in the question is.