Halle (The Brussels Morning newspaper): A woman was fined for using the emergency lane to bypass traffic, receiving an 8-day license suspension and a €180 fine. Another driver faced similar penalties for the same offense.
In Wezembeek-Oppem, a woman was stopped by the police for trying to get around a traffic jam on the motorway. She drove in the emergency lane, which is only for emergencies, to pass the slow cars. When questioned, she said she wanted to take the next exit, but her actions didn’t support that claim. As soon as the woman saw the police, she quickly moved back into the regular traffic lanes, showing that she knew she was breaking the rules. The prosecutor pointed this out as proof that she understood she was doing something wrong. It has been said that this situation highlights the problems with using emergency lanes, which are meant only for emergencies and not for getting around traffic.
Should emergency lanes be off-limits for traffic bypass?
In court, the woman’s lawyer said she made a mistake because she was under a lot of stress. The lawyer explained that the woman was trying to balance a tough job while visiting her boyfriend in the hospital. This stressful situation led to her error, which resulted in legal trouble. Because of her actions, the woman received several penalties. Her driving license was taken away for 8 days, and she had to pay a fine of 180 euros. She also had to pay 300 euros in court costs. These penalties were given to deal with her mistake and show how serious the situation was.
On the Brussels Ring in Dilbeek, police stopped a driver illegally using the hard shoulder to get around a traffic jam. The judge found this action dangerous and gave the driver a fine of 180 euros and a 15-day driving ban. The judge said that driving past other cars on the hard shoulder for more than 500 meters is unacceptable and risky. The judge stressed that the hard shoulder is only for emergency services and broken-down vehicles, not for regular traffic. By using it as an extra lane, the driver broke the law and raised the chance of accidents. The judge’s comments highlighted the importance of keeping the hard shoulder clear for its proper use.
