Driving in Belgium vs. Paraguay: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the distinct driving regulations and practices is essential for a safe journey. This comparison between Belgium and Paraguay highlights notable contrasts, such as lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol consumption laws. By familiarizing yourself with these variations, you can ensure a smoother and more secure driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
| 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.
paraguay:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
paraguay:
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.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
paraguay:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
paraguay:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
paraguay:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
paraguay:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belgium:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Paraguay |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| 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
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
paraguay:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
paraguay:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| 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 | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
belgium:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days