Driving in Belgium vs. Morocco: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through the roads of Belgium and Morocco? It's vital to understand the distinct rules and regulations that govern each nation. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol thresholds, our comprehensive comparison reveals intriguing contrasts that impact driving safety and etiquette. Prepare for a smoother ride by familiarizing yourself with these critical variances.
Lanes
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
| 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.
morocco:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
morocco:
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.
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
morocco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
morocco:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
morocco:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
morocco:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
morocco:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Arabic and 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: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
belgium:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
morocco:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
morocco:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
morocco:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay