Driving Differences: Belgium vs. South Africa Uncovered
When comparing the driving landscapes of Belgium and South Africa, notable distinctions emerge that can influence road safety for travelers. Key aspects such as driving orientation—right in Belgium versus left in South Africa—as well as varied speed limits and lane usage rules highlight the importance of understanding these contrasts. Stay informed to ensure a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| 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; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| 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 |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 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 | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
south africa:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
south africa:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in South Africa |
| 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 | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Not applicable |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay