Driving Differences: Belgium vs. North Macedonia
Explore the intriguing distinctions between driving regulations in Belgium and North Macedonia. While Belgium features a mix of lane markings and electronic speed limits, North Macedonia emphasizes stricter alcohol limits and on-the-spot fines. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| 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.
north macedonia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
north macedonia:
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.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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
north macedonia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
north macedonia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
north macedonia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
north macedonia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
north macedonia:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| 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
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
belgium:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
belgium:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
north macedonia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
north macedonia:
Common practice
Alcohol
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Contact local service providers |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay