Driving in Belgium vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Romania, drivers will encounter notable variations in regulations and practices. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol limits, highlighting Romania's stricter stance on sobriety. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey and navigating with confidence in each country.
Lanes
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
romania:
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.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Yes, periodic inspections 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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 | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
belgium:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist