Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Ivory Coast Uncovered
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving practices between Belgium and Ivory Coast. From lane markings to speed limits and alcohol restrictions, this comparison reveals notable distinctions that can significantly impact your travel experience. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in both nations.
Lanes
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not applicable |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
ivory coast:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
ivory coast:
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.
ivory coast:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
ivory coast:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 110 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 | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, for some infractions. |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
ivory coast:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
ivory coast:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | French; 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
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Headlight Flash: Usage
belgium:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
belgium:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated