Driving in Belgium vs Bolivia: Key Differences You Need
When venturing from Belgium to Bolivia, understanding their unique road regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and the presence of variable restrictions. While Belgium emphasizes structured traffic systems, Bolivia offers more flexibility in certain scenarios, underlining the need for adaptability when driving abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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.
bolivia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
bolivia:
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.
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
bolivia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
bolivia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
bolivia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No, not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, fines can be issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
bolivia:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
bolivia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
bolivia:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
Signals
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Bolivia |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Only to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Spanish |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
Horn Usage: Allowed
belgium:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
bolivia:
Spanish
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
bolivia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints often used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies, can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
bolivia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
bolivia:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
bolivia:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Bolivia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; may result in points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines may apply, varies by location |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines apply and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
bolivia:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly