Driving in Belgium vs. Slovakia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Slovakia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and road practices that impact their experience. Key differences include speed limits, overtaking rules, and alcohol tolerance levels. Understanding these unique driving customs is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
slovakia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
slovakia:
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.
slovakia:
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.
slovakia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
slovakia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 90 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: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Electronic signs display current limits. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
slovakia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
slovakia:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
slovakia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
slovakia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
slovakia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
slovakia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
slovakia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
slovakia:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Slovakia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Slovak; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
slovakia:
Not used in Slovakia
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
slovakia:
Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
slovakia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
slovakia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
slovakia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 along with local license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory and regular inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
slovakia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
slovakia:
International Driving Permit required along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
slovakia:
Mandatory and regular inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
slovakia:
Displayed on windshield
Alcohol
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
slovakia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
slovakia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
slovakia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
slovakia:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 158 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
slovakia:
158
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
slovakia:
Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Slovakia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | €50 to €150, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | €100 to €200, points in some regions |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | €100 to €250, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
slovakia:
Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
slovakia:
€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
slovakia:
€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
slovakia:
€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
slovakia:
Common
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
slovakia:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay