Driving in Belgium vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the road rules between Belgium and New Zealand reveals fascinating contrasts in traffic practices. From driving sides and speed limits to pedestrian rights and alcohol regulations, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure journey. Prepare for your travels by delving into the unique driving landscape of each nation.
Lanes
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the right 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 right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
new zealand:
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.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belgium:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| 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
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
belgium:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
new zealand:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay