Driving in Belgium vs Madagascar: A Safety Comparison
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Madagascar, distinct variations in driving regulations and practices come to light. Notably, Belgium prioritizes structured lane usage and variable speed limits, while Madagascar's more flexible rules reflect local conditions. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Typically not used. |
| 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 recommended; local conditions may vary. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Stay to the right lane when possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Available mainly in urban areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved mostly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be marked clearly in major cities. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Sparse |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with vehicles unless marked. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Lane Change: Signal Mandatory | Yes | Yes, when possible. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits are fixed. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
madagascar:
Typically not used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
madagascar:
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.
madagascar:
Not recommended; local conditions may vary.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
madagascar:
Stay to the right lane when possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
madagascar:
Available mainly in urban areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
madagascar:
Reserved mostly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
madagascar:
May be marked clearly in major cities.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
madagascar:
Sparse
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
madagascar:
Shared with vehicles unless marked.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
madagascar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
madagascar:
N/A
Lane Change: Signal Mandatory
belgium:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, when possible.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
madagascar:
Speed limits are fixed.
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-100 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 | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, particularly in urban areas. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, common. |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
madagascar:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
madagascar:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
madagascar:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
madagascar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
madagascar:
Not applicable
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
madagascar:
Yes, particularly in urban areas.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
madagascar:
Yes, common.
Signals
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not commonly used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Excessive use discouraged |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | May apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers or signal overtaking |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Occasionally used, especially in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | French and Malagasy |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular signs with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
madagascar:
Not commonly used
Horn Usage: Allowed
belgium:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
madagascar:
Yes, often used in crowded areas for signaling
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
madagascar:
Excessive use discouraged
Horn Usage: Penalties
belgium:
Fines may apply for misuse
madagascar:
May apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
belgium:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
madagascar:
To warn other drivers or signal overtaking
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belgium:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
madagascar:
Occasionally used, especially in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
madagascar:
French and Malagasy
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
madagascar:
Triangular signs with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless specified otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
madagascar:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
madagascar:
Prohibited unless specified otherwise
Documentation
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Indication may vary |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
madagascar:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
madagascar:
Mandatory for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
madagascar:
Indication may vary
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Use is more frequent in urban areas |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Significantly used for communication with other drivers |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
madagascar:
Common practice, particularly in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
belgium:
Only in emergency situations
madagascar:
Use is more frequent in urban areas
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
madagascar:
Significantly used for communication with other drivers
Pedestrians Priority
belgium:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
madagascar:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
madagascar:
Pull over to the side if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
madagascar:
0.08%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
madagascar:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
madagascar:
Common in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
madagascar:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
madagascar:
Results in penalties
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Not commonly practiced |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
madagascar:
Not commonly practiced
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
madagascar:
Recommended to signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Could vary; commonly police contact |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Varies by provider, public services might be limited |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
madagascar:
117
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
madagascar:
Could vary; commonly police contact
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
madagascar:
Varies by provider, public services might be limited
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
madagascar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Madagascar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines applicable for non-use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines applicable for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Monetary fines applied |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Determined by issuing authority |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
madagascar:
Varies; typically warning first, then monetary fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
madagascar:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment for high levels
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
madagascar:
Fines applicable for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
madagascar:
Fines applicable for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
madagascar:
Monetary fines applied
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
madagascar:
Common for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
madagascar:
Determined by issuing authority