Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Belize Explained
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Belgium and Belize. From lane markings and speed limits to unique traffic signals, these countries present distinct challenges for travelers. Understanding these variations not only enhances your driving experience but also significantly promotes safety on unfamiliar roads. Discover what sets these two nations apart for a secure journey!
Lanes
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
belize:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
belize:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
belize:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
belize:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
belize:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
belize:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
belize:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
belize:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
belize:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
belize:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 25 mph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 mph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 40-55 mph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 40-55 mph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 40-55 mph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 55-65 mph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 55-65 mph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 55-65 mph |
| Speed Units | km/h | mph |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
belize:
25 mph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
belize:
25 mph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
belize:
40-55 mph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
belize:
40-55 mph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
belize:
40-55 mph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
belize:
55-65 mph
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
belize:
55-65 mph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
belize:
55-65 mph
Speed Units
belgium:
km/h
belize:
mph
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
belize:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
belize:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
belize:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
Signals
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Belize |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
belize:
Not used in Belize
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
belize:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
belize:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory annually; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
belize:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
belize:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
belize:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
belize:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
belize:
Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
belize:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
belize:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Varies; significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, fines are often collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
belize:
Varies; significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
belize:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay