Driving in Belgium vs. Maldives: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Belgium and the Maldives, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key differences include the side of the road on which vehicles operate—right in Belgium and left in the Maldives—along with variations in speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes, when safe and legal. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May be designated with road signs or markings. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Minimal |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Usually not specifically marked in many areas. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
maldives:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
maldives:
Used in certain situations, traditionally marks the center of the road where crossing is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
maldives:
Often used on the edge of the road or for other specific purposes in the Maldives.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
maldives:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
maldives:
Yes, when safe and legal.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
maldives:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
maldives:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
maldives:
Reserved primarily for buses; check local regulations.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
maldives:
May be designated with road signs or markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
maldives:
Minimal
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
maldives:
Cyclists generally use the main road where space permits.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
maldives:
Usually not specifically marked in many areas.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
maldives:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
maldives:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 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 | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | Not applicable |
| 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 | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
maldives:
30 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
maldives:
25 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
maldives:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
maldives:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
maldives:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
maldives:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
maldives:
Common
Signals
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not commonly used in Maldives |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only in cases to avoid accidents | Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Country-specific shapes and colors |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
maldives:
Not commonly used in Maldives
Horn Usage: Allowed
belgium:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
maldives:
Allowed, but discouraged for non-emergencies
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
maldives:
Dhivehi and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
maldives:
Country-specific shapes and colors
Turns
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed unless signed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated |
| Special Turn Lanes | Yes, marked with arrows | Limited, mainly at main intersections |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
maldives:
Not allowed unless signed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
maldives:
Typically allowed unless otherwise indicated
Special Turn Lanes
belgium:
Yes, marked with arrows
maldives:
Limited, mainly at main intersections
Documentation
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Usually 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
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
maldives:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
maldives:
Periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
maldives:
Usually displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
maldives:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
maldives:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
maldives:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
maldives:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
maldives:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
maldives:
Fines can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Appropriate lanes as per signage |
Lane Usage: Right
belgium:
Use for first exit or straight
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Lane Usage: Left
belgium:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
maldives:
Appropriate lanes as per signage
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Contact local police for traffic issues |
| 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
maldives:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
maldives:
Contact local police for traffic issues
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
maldives:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
maldives:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Maldives | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines start from MVR 750 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines for use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible for minor offenses |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within a specified time |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
maldives:
Varies; fines start from MVR 750
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
maldives:
Severe penalties including license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
maldives:
Fines apply for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
maldives:
Fines for use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
maldives:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
maldives:
Possible for minor offenses
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
maldives:
Varies; typically within a specified time