Driving in Belgium vs. China: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Belgium and China, drivers encounter significant variations in traffic regulations, lane usage, and speed limits. Key distinctions, such as Belgium's emphasis on solid white lane markings versus China's use of yellow lines, can greatly impact safety. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks 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 in certain cases; check local rules. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3] | Pedestrian crossings | Railroad crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane if possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
china:
Marks 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.
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belgium:
List length: 5
china:
List length: 4
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
belgium:
Pedestrian crossings
china:
Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
belgium:
No
china:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, especially in urban areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
china:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
china:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
china:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
china:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
china:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
china:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
Signals
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in China |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Chinese; symbols also used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular shape with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
china:
Not used in China
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
Documentation
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid driver's license required | Valid Chinese driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit required for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
belgium:
Valid driver's license required
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
china:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai |
| 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
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially near bars and clubs |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Severe fines, license suspension possible |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
china:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
china:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
Roundabouts
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight ahead |
Lane Usage: Right
belgium:
Use for first exit or straight
china:
Use for first exit or straight ahead
Emergency Services
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Same as general emergency; 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
china:
110
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | ¥50 to ¥200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines and points on license |
| 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 | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
china:
¥50 to ¥200
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
china:
Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
china:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks