Driving in Brunei vs. Netherlands: Key Differences Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison sheds light on the distinct driving practices in Brunei and the Netherlands. Key differences include driving sides, speed limits, and the presence of specialized lanes, all pivotal for ensuring your travel experience remains secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' 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 often distinct red coloring. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
brunei:
Left
netherlands:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brunei:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brunei:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
Overtaking: On Right
brunei:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
netherlands:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brunei:
Use leftmost lane.
netherlands:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brunei:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brunei:
40 km/h
netherlands:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
70-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brunei:
70-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brunei:
70-80 km/h
netherlands:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brunei:
100 km/h
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brunei:
100 km/h
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brunei:
No
netherlands:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brunei:
N/A
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brunei:
Yes
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
Signals
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brunei | Not used in Netherlands |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Malay; English used for important signs | Dutch; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brunei:
Not used in Brunei
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
Traffic Signs: Language
brunei:
Malay; English used for important signs
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brunei:
Not allowed
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed
brunei:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
Documentation
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annually required | Periodic technical inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Not used | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brunei:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brunei:
Annually required
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brunei:
Not used
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory
netherlands:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brunei:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
netherlands:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brunei:
0.00%
netherlands:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brunei:
0.00%; zero tolerance
netherlands:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brunei:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
brunei:
Varies; can be substantial
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | No signal required unless exiting immediately |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
brunei:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
Signaling: Exiting
brunei:
Signal left when preparing to exit
netherlands:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 991 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 993 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brunei:
991
netherlands:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brunei:
993
netherlands:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brunei:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
netherlands:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brunei:
Not mandatory, but recommended
netherlands:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brunei | Netherlands | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license | Varies; can be significant, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | B$150 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | B$300 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | B$250 | Fines apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 days to pay | Varies; payment within specified period required |
Common Fines: Speeding
brunei:
Varies; B$50 to B$500, points on license
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brunei:
B$150
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
brunei:
B$300
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brunei:
B$250
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brunei:
Yes
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
brunei:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required