Driving in Belgium vs. Cyprus: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Cyprus, it's crucial to understand their distinct driving regulations and practices. Notably, Belgium drives on the right, while Cyprus follows the left. Speed limits, lane usage, and signaling also differ significantly, highlighting the importance of being informed for a safe and enjoyable journey in these two unique destinations.
Lanes
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Usually reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
cyprus:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
cyprus:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cyprus:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cyprus:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
cyprus:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 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
cyprus:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
cyprus:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
cyprus:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
cyprus:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Cyprus |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belgium:
Signal when exiting
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
cyprus:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits without additional permits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used routinely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial and strict |
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately |
Signaling: Entering
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 |
| 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: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
cyprus:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Strict enforcement, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Substantial fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail