Driving Differences: Belgium vs Tanzania Explained
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Tanzania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experience behind the wheel. Key contrasts include driving orientation—right in Belgium versus left in Tanzania—and varied speed limits. Understanding these crucial discrepancies is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes |
| 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
| 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
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
tanzania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| 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: 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; 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
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
tanzania:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Required annually |
| 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Significant fines apply |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common |
| 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
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay