Driving in Belgium vs. Mexico: Key Safety Differences
The driving experience in Belgium and Mexico presents intriguing contrasts that every traveler should understand. From lane markings and speed limits to regulations on alcohol consumption, these two countries offer distinct road etiquette. Being aware of these variations can significantly enhance your safety and enjoyment while navigating unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| 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.
mexico:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
mexico:
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.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
mexico:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 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 | 70-80 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, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
mexico:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
mexico:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
mexico:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
mexico:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments