Driving in Belgium vs Jordan: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between Belgium and Jordan. Key distinctions emerge in lane markings, speed limits, and the use of emergency equipment. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable motoring experience while abroad, helping travelers navigate the roads with confidence.
Lanes
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the edge of the roadway. |
| 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 only on multi-lane urban roads. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No specific bus lanes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited; primarily in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicular traffic. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Cycle symbols where applicable. |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
jordan:
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.
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
jordan:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
jordan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
jordan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
jordan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Yes; common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
jordan:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
jordan:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
jordan:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
jordan:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
jordan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
jordan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
jordan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
jordan:
Yes; common.
Signals
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not typically used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | To avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
jordan:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Allowed
belgium:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
jordan:
To avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
jordan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
jordan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
jordan:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use is common |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
jordan:
Moderate use is common
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
jordan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
jordan:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
jordan:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
jordan:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
jordan:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
jordan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Jordan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, occasionally |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
jordan:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
jordan:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay