Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Denmark Revealed
Driving in Belgium and Denmark presents unique challenges and regulations. Notably, speed limits vary, with urban areas in Belgium allowing speeds up to 50 km/h while Denmark maintains a steady 50 km/h. Additionally, lane markings and enforcement practices diverge significantly, affecting road safety. Understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Used temporarily in construction zones. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
denmark:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 110-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, for minor offenses. |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
denmark:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
denmark:
110-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
denmark:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
denmark:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
Signals
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Used before green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Danish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
denmark:
Used before green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belgium:
Signal when exiting
denmark:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
denmark:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
denmark:
Not allowed
Left Turn: General
belgium:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
Documentation
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
denmark:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
denmark:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; carried out by the police |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
denmark:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if taking any exit other than first |
Signaling: Entering
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Denmark | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply, use of hands-free required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Significant fines and possible license points |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days