Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs. Belgium Uncovered
Discover the unique road regulations and practices of Afghanistan and Belgium, two countries with vastly different driving environments. From lane markings and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, this comparison unveils essential variations in ensuring safety on the roads. Stay informed and drive safely while navigating these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
Overtaking: On Right
afghanistan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
belgium:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
belgium:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
belgium:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | No; fines are mailed to the driver |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
belgium:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
belgium:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
belgium:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
belgium:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
belgium:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
afghanistan:
No
belgium:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
Signals
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Yes; indicates impending green light |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Not allowed unless specific signage permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; national driving license sufficient |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
afghanistan:
Displayed on windshield
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
belgium:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
belgium:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; conducted by police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies by severity of offense |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
belgium:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
belgium:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 101 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
belgium:
101
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
belgium:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
belgium:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | Fine of around 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | Fines; points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | No; fines usually mailed to the driver |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay