Driving in Belgium vs Myanmar: Key Differences Explained
When comparing road regulations in Belgium and Myanmar, notable contrasts emerge that affect driver safety and compliance. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol thresholds and emergency protocols, this analysis highlights the essential distinctions that travelers must navigate. Understanding these unique driving norms can significantly enhance your road experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the 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 Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
myanmar:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
myanmar:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70 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
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
myanmar:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
myanmar:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
myanmar:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Myanmar |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
myanmar:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
myanmar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| 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
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay