Driving in Australia vs. Belgium: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia and Belgium, understanding key distinctions in traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits and unique signaling practices, this comparison highlights crucial variations that every traveler should know to ensure a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
belgium:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
belgium:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
belgium:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
belgium:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 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 | 80-100 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | No; fines are mailed to the driver |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
belgium:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
belgium:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
belgium:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
belgium:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
belgium:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
belgium:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
Signals
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Yes; indicates impending green light |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
belgium:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
Turns
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed unless specific signage permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; national driving license sufficient |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | 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
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
belgium:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
belgium:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; conducted by police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies by severity of offense |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
Roundabouts
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
belgium:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 101 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 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: General Emergency
australia:
000
belgium:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
belgium:
101
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
belgium:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
belgium:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Belgium | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Fine of around 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines; points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | No; fines usually mailed to the driver |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay