Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Uzbekistan Explained
When navigating the roads of Belgium and Uzbekistan, understanding the variations in traffic regulations and practices is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and the presence of bus lanes. By familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances, you can ensure a more secure experience while exploring these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Typically used to separate opposing traffic on undivided 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. | Generally discouraged, unless unavoidable. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane where possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often indicated by signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles where present. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | May have bicycle symbols or distinct paint. |
| 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.
uzbekistan:
Typically used to separate opposing traffic on undivided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
uzbekistan:
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.
uzbekistan:
Generally discouraged, unless unavoidable.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belgium:
List length: 5
uzbekistan:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
uzbekistan:
Use the rightmost lane where possible.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
uzbekistan:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
uzbekistan:
Reserved for buses in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
uzbekistan:
Labeled 'BUS'; often indicated by signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
uzbekistan:
Limited, mostly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uzbekistan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
uzbekistan:
May have bicycle symbols or distinct paint.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
uzbekistan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
uzbekistan:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 100 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 |
| 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; issued by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
uzbekistan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
uzbekistan:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
uzbekistan:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
uzbekistan:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
uzbekistan:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
uzbekistan:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
uzbekistan:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
uzbekistan:
Yes; issued by traffic police
Signals
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Uzbekistan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Discouraged at night in residential areas |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Generally uncommon, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Uzbek and Russian; 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
uzbekistan:
Not used in Uzbekistan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
uzbekistan:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
Headlight Flash: Usage
belgium:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
uzbekistan:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belgium:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
uzbekistan:
Generally uncommon, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
uzbekistan:
Uzbek and Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
uzbekistan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed except where prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
uzbekistan:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
uzbekistan:
Allowed except where prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
uzbekistan:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
uzbekistan:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
uzbekistan:
Annual inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
uzbekistan:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
uzbekistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally more frequent due to local driving habits |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
belgium:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
uzbekistan:
Encouraged
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
uzbekistan:
Generally more frequent due to local driving habits
Alcohol
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance for drivers under 21 |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints are frequently utilized |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial, varies by severity of infraction |
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
uzbekistan:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
uzbekistan:
0.00%; zero tolerance for drivers under 21
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
uzbekistan:
Common; checkpoints are frequently utilized
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
uzbekistan:
Substantial, varies by severity of infraction
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 103 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 102 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
uzbekistan:
103
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
uzbekistan:
102
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
uzbekistan:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
uzbekistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Uzbekistan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines for using phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines issued, points on license possible |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Not typical; fines often paid through bank or office |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible for severe violations or unpaid fines |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
uzbekistan:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
uzbekistan:
Fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
uzbekistan:
Fines for using phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
uzbekistan:
Fines issued, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
uzbekistan:
Not typical; fines often paid through bank or office
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
uzbekistan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
belgium:
Possible if fines are not paid
uzbekistan:
Possible for severe violations or unpaid fines