Driving in Belgium vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into new territories, understanding the nuances of road regulations is essential for travelers. This comparison between Belgium and Ireland reveals significant contrasts: from driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits and traffic signal protocols. Equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate these differences and enhance your journey's safety.
Lanes
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| 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 taxis. |
| 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
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 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 | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
ireland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
ireland:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
ireland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
belgium:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belgium:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
ireland:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Random breath testing is common. |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay