Belize vs Spain: Key Driving Differences You Should Know
When navigating the roads of Belize and Spain, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. From speed limits and lane usage to alcohol thresholds and emergency protocols, these nations exhibit notable contrasts. Familiarize yourself with these driving nuances to enhance your travel experience and prioritize safety abroad.
Lanes
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
spain:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
spain:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
spain:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
spain:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
spain:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belize:
N/A
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belize:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 90 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
spain:
90 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
spain:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belize:
No
spain:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
spain:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
spain:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belize:
Not used in Belize
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belize:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belize:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
belize:
0.08%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
spain:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
spain:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
belize:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
belize:
911
spain:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
belize:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.