Driving in Belgium vs. Monaco: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Monaco, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol enforcement. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in these unique driving environments.
Lanes
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Standard speed limits apply |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
monaco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common for traffic violations |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
monaco:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
monaco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
belgium:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon