Driving in Belgium vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Belgium and Switzerland, drivers will encounter significant variations in regulations and practices. From speed limits to lane markings, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Notably, Switzerland mandates on-the-spot fines, while Belgium doesn't, highlighting the need for awareness in both countries.
Lanes
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
switzerland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Prepare to go |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| 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 | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
switzerland:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right
belgium:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay