Driving Safety: Belgium vs Guatemala - Key Differences
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Guatemala, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their journey. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and emergency contacts, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Discover how to adapt to each country's unique road culture while prioritizing your safety.
Lanes
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles in some areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Varies by location. |
| 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.
guatemala:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
guatemala:
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.
guatemala:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
guatemala:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
guatemala:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
guatemala:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
guatemala:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
guatemala:
Varies by location.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
guatemala:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
guatemala:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Limited use |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
guatemala:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
guatemala:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
guatemala:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
guatemala:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
guatemala:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
guatemala:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
guatemala:
Limited use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Guatemala |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Spanish; 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Varies, check local signs for permission |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies by locality; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
guatemala:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
guatemala:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 122 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
guatemala:
122
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
guatemala:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; check with local authorities |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
guatemala:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
guatemala:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
guatemala:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities