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.
LEFT
Driving Side
The driving side in australia is the Left Side of the road
87
Driving Safety Score
The driving Driving Safety Score in australia is 87
1.032 $
Gas Price in USD
The driving Driving Safety Score for australia is 1.032 US Dollars
While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.
Lanes
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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.
Alcohol
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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
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| 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