Driving in Belgium vs Tunisia: Key Differences Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between Belgium and Tunisia. From the presence of bus lanes to varying speed limits and alcohol policies, this comparison highlights essential nuances that affect road safety and navigation. Stay informed before you hit the road in either country!
Lanes
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
tunisia:
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.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; 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
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory; proof may be 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belgium:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
tunisia:
Yes