Driving in Belgium vs. Lithuania: Key Differences Revealed
Explore the driving landscape between Belgium and Lithuania, where distinct regulations and practices shape road safety. Key variations include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance levels, impacting how motorists navigate these countries. Understanding these crucial distinctions will ensure a safer and more informed journey while traveling abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Separation of opposing traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs. |
| 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.
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
lithuania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
lithuania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 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 | Yes, issued by police. |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
lithuania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
lithuania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
lithuania:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
lithuania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
lithuania:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
lithuania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
lithuania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
Signals
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Indicates prepared to start |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Lithuanian; 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
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| 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
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory annual check |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
lithuania:
Common practice
Alcohol
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, particularly at night and weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial; varies based on BAC level |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
lithuania:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
lithuania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
lithuania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment
belgium:
Possible for severe offenses
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Contact your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
lithuania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Mandatory, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, by police |
| 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
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
lithuania:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
lithuania:
Yes, by police
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
lithuania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay