Driving in Belgium vs. Kuwait: Key Differences Explored
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Kuwait, it's essential to understand the distinct traffic regulations and road customs that prevail in each country. Notable contrasts include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol consumption guidelines, all of which significantly impact traveler safety. Familiarizing yourself with these variations will ensure a smoother and safer driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | 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.
kuwait:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
kuwait:
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.
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
kuwait:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
kuwait:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kuwait:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
kuwait:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
kuwait:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit required |
| 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 inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| 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
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
belgium:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 |
| 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: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days