Belgium vs Croatia: Driving Differences You Need to Know
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Croatia, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, road markings, and penalties for violations, which can vary significantly between these two nations. Familiarizing yourself with these driving protocols can enhance your travel experience and promote road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| 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.
croatia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
croatia:
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.
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
croatia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
croatia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 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
croatia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
croatia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
croatia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
croatia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
croatia:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Croatian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
croatia:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belgium:
Signal when exiting
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
croatia:
Triangle with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
croatia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens |
| 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 windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
croatia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
Alcohol
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
croatia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
croatia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
croatia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
croatia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 92 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 188 or check with your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
croatia:
92
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; significant fines possible |
| 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 | Significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, often |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; stated at the time of fine |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
croatia:
Significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
croatia:
Yes, often
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine