Driving in Belgium vs. Brunei: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Belgium and Brunei. From driving sides—right in Belgium versus left in Brunei—to varying speed limits and distinct traffic signals, each nation has its unique vehicular customs. Understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the right 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 right. |
| 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
brunei:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
brunei:
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.
brunei:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
brunei:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
brunei:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
brunei:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
brunei:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
brunei:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
brunei:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
brunei:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
brunei:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
brunei:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
brunei:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
brunei:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
brunei:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
brunei:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
brunei:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
brunei:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
brunei:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
brunei:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
brunei:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
brunei:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Brunei |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Malay; English used for important signs |
| 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
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
brunei:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
brunei:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annually required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not used |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
brunei:
Annually required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
brunei:
Not used
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
brunei:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
brunei:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
brunei:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
brunei:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 991 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 993 |
| 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
brunei:
991
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
brunei:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
brunei:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Brunei | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | B$150 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | B$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | B$250 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
brunei:
B$150
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
brunei:
B$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
brunei:
B$250
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
brunei:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay