Driving in Belgium vs Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Discover the contrasting road regulations between Belgium and Thailand, essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. From varying speed limits and lane usage to different approaches in dealing with emergency services, these nations highlight significant distinctions in their traffic norms. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge for a safer journey.
Lanes
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| 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. | Prohibited |
| 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
thailand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
thailand:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
thailand:
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.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-90 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
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
thailand:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
thailand:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| 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
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
thailand:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
belgium:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days