Diverse Driving Cultures: Netherlands vs. Romania
When navigating the roads of the Netherlands and Romania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their journeys. From lane markings and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and vehicle documentation, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Discover the essential contrasts that can affect your travels in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not typically used; centerlines are usually white. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
netherlands:
Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
romania:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
netherlands:
Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
netherlands:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-130 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
netherlands:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
netherlands:
100-130 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
netherlands:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
netherlands:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
netherlands:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
netherlands:
Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Netherlands | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
netherlands:
Not used in Netherlands
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
netherlands:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
netherlands:
Dutch; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
netherlands:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
netherlands:
Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
netherlands:
Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Periodic technical inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | No sticker used; information in vehicle registration | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
netherlands:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
netherlands:
Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
netherlands:
Periodic technical inspection required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
netherlands:
No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
netherlands:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
netherlands:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
netherlands:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
netherlands:
Common; checkpoints used
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
netherlands:
Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Roundabouts
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signal required unless exiting immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
netherlands:
No signal required unless exiting immediately
romania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ANWB | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Roadside Assistance
netherlands:
Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
netherlands:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
netherlands:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Netherlands | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be significant, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; payment within specified period required | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
netherlands:
Varies; can be significant, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
netherlands:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
netherlands:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
netherlands:
Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
netherlands:
Varies; payment within specified period required
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
netherlands:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist