Driving in Belgium
The minimum age requirement for driving in Belgium is 18 years. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to sit in the front and must be seated at the rear with seatbelts. Seatbelts are compulsory for all passengers both at the front and back. The blood alcohol limit is Belgium is 50mg. Speed limits in Belgium vary depending on where you are driving. The speed limit is about 120kph on motorways or expressways and about 90kph in built up areas. In Belgium, trams have priority over cars.
Headlights are a must throughout and especially during bad weather. The horn is only allowed to be used outside built up areas. The police have the authority to collect fines and press charges on the spot. If for any reason, you are not willing to pay, you will be asked to pay a security deposit. When police request an alcohol test, you are allowed to refuse according to the law. However, in doing so you might get arrested.
There are several parking areas known as Blue Zone parking areas in Belgium that feature parking meters or similar facilities. Parking discs are also used in some cases which can be obtained from police, service stations etc. According to the law, you are not permitted to park within 15 meters of a tram, bus or rail stop or intersections.
There are several other requirements for driving in Belgium. All cars must be equipped with warning triangles. You must carry your driving license, insurance certificate, vehicle registration and photo ID at all times. GB stickers, also known as country of origin stickers, are required. Although most of the roads in Belgium are toll free, only the use of Antwerp’s Liefkenshoek Tunnel requires the use of toll.
Recently, in the past few years, the Belgian Government introduced certain equipment to improve road safety. Speed traps, cameras and unmarked vehicles are now operating throughout the country. Service stations are not open throughout the night and are closed on Sundays. All kinds of leaded and unleaded petrol are available in Belgium.
An International Driving License is required to drive in Belgium. Highways in Belgium are well built and maintained with good lighting. However, rain and fog can reduce visibility. The rules for right hand side driving in Belgium differ from that in the United States and therefore drivers should fully understand all rules are regulations before attempting to drive.
In case you need to find out about road conditions or any other information, you can contact Belgium’s Road Safety department or even ask the local police for help.
Additional Information
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