Driving Safety: Belgium vs. Egypt Explained
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Egypt, understanding the nuances of their traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and the use of horns—where Belgium emphasizes structured guidelines, while Egypt fosters a more flexible approach. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate confidently abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Typically used by buses and minibuses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Not consistently marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Often unmarked. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Fixed speed limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
egypt:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
egypt:
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.
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
egypt:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
egypt:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
egypt:
Often unmarked.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
egypt:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Fixed speed limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
egypt:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
egypt:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
egypt:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
egypt:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
egypt:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
egypt:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
egypt:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Signals
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Egypt |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | Fines can occur for excessive misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To signal other drivers or warn of presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not officially regulated |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used in some situations due to high traffic density |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangles with a red border and white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
Horn Usage: Allowed
belgium:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
Horn Usage: Penalties
belgium:
Fines may apply for misuse
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
belgium:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
belgium:
Not to be used to signal other messages
egypt:
Not officially regulated
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belgium:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
Turns
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
Documentation
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid driver's license required | Valid Egyptian driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Provided after passing inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
belgium:
Valid driver's license required
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
egypt:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged, fines may apply | Common in high traffic areas |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, though not always observed |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Commonly used |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and allow passage |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
belgium:
Discouraged, fines may apply
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
Use Of Horn: Limited
belgium:
Only in emergency situations
egypt:
Commonly used
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
Alcohol
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Conducted frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in penalties and license suspension |
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
egypt:
Conducted frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
egypt:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 122 |
| 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
egypt:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
egypt:
122
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Significant fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes; fines are often paid immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within a few weeks |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks