Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Mozambique Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Mozambique, drivers will encounter striking contrasts in regulations and practices. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and traffic signals, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison highlights essential distinctions that every traveler should know before hitting the road in either nation.
Lanes
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centers the road for no-passing zones. |
| 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 allowed. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| 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 |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
mozambique:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
mozambique:
Centers the road for no-passing zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
mozambique:
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.
mozambique:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
mozambique:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
mozambique:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mozambique:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mozambique:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
mozambique:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
mozambique:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 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: 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
mozambique:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
mozambique:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
mozambique:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
mozambique:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
mozambique:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
mozambique:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
mozambique:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Mozambique |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
mozambique:
Not used in Mozambique
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
mozambique:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
mozambique:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed unless signed otherwise. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
mozambique:
Not allowed unless signed otherwise.
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
mozambique:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
mozambique:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
mozambique:
Annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
mozambique:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
mozambique:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially in urban areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
mozambique:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mozambique:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
mozambique:
Common, especially in urban areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
mozambique:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 121 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
mozambique:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
mozambique:
121
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
mozambique:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Mozambique | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; fines often paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period, |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
mozambique:
Varies; fines can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
mozambique:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
mozambique:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
mozambique:
Common; fines often paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
mozambique:
Varies; typically required immediately or within a short period,