Driving in Belgium vs. India: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Belgium and India, drivers will encounter significant contrasts in regulations and practices. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, varying speed limits, and unique lane markings. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each country, enhancing your travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
india:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
india:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
india:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
india:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
india:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
india:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
india:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
india:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English and local languages; 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
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belgium:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
belgium:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
belgium:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
belgium:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
india:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
india:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense