Driving in Belgium vs Bhutan: A Safety Comparison
Driving in Belgium and Bhutan presents unique challenges and regulations that highlight significant contrasts in road practices. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and alcohol consumption norms, understanding these variations is essential for safe navigation. This comparison offers vital insights for travelers aiming to stay secure while on the roads of these diverse nations.
Lanes
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
bhutan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
bhutan:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
bhutan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
bhutan:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
bhutan:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
bhutan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
bhutan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bhutan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | Up to 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | Up to 60 km/h |
| 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 |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
bhutan:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
bhutan:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
bhutan:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Bhutan |
| 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
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Restricted; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
bhutan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially during events |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial and imprisonment possible |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
bhutan:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
bhutan:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
bhutan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
bhutan:
113
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
bhutan:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Bhutan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; often involves fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically immediate payment required |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
bhutan:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
bhutan:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required