Driving in Belgium vs. Singapore: Key Differences Unveiled
Discover the essential distinctions in road regulations and practices between Belgium and Singapore. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safe travels abroad. Whether you're navigating the right side of Belgium or the left side of Singapore, being informed can make all the difference.
Lanes
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not allowed. |
| 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 peak hours. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
singapore:
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.
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
singapore:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Singapore |
| 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
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
singapore:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
singapore:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Display not 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
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
belgium:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
belgium:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
singapore:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
singapore:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay