Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Sri Lanka Explained
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Sri Lanka, understanding the unique variations in traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides, speed limits, and the use of lanes, all of which impact road safety. Explore these essential differences to ensure a smooth driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed when safe. |
| 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. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
sri lanka:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 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; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belgium:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
sri lanka:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | International Driving Permit required |
| 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, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay