Driving in Belgium vs. Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Belgium and Indonesia, crucial distinctions emerge that can impact safety. Key differences include driving sides—right in Belgium and left in Indonesia—as well as speed limits and overtaking norms. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth driving experience while abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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
indonesia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
indonesia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
indonesia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
indonesia:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80 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: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies by region; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
indonesia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days