Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Saudi Arabia Safety Tips
When navigating the roads in Belgium and Saudi Arabia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol regulations, affecting both road safety and driving culture. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| 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.
saudi arabia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
saudi arabia:
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.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
belgium:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 100 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Arabic; 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
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
saudi arabia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
belgium:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
saudi arabia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay