DRIVING IN BELGIUM

Belgian drivers have a poor reputation, borne out by an unusually high road casualty rate by Western European standards. One explanation for this is that Belgium was one of the last European countries to introduce a compulsory driving test. It also doesn't help that there are a large number of foreign drivers living in Brussels, who aren't all used to the strong local convention of giving way to the right: the foreign driver gives way at an intersection and is promptly rear-ended by a local driver who assumes that the car in front will assert its right of way. Always be on the alert for vehicles joining from the right without giving way, even if you are apparently on a main road. Always give way to trams.

Regulations

Blue zone parking systems operate in major towns. Look out for signs indicating that cars should park fully or partly on the pavement. Police are authorised to impose on-the-spot fines. Filling stations often close on Sundays. It is illegal to leave a dog unattended in a parked car.

Road signs

Two languages are spoken in Belgium, Flemish and French. This can be confusing for visiting drivers because road signs in the north of the country are in Flemish, while in the south they are in French (signs in Brussels tend to be bi-lingual. Many towns have different names in each language, and it's easy to be caught out when you cross from one linguistic region to the other and signs start using the alternative spelling.

Place names likely to confuse include:

Liege - Luik  Ypres - leper   Lille - Rijsel   Mons - Bergen   Tournai – Doornik 

De Man - Le Coq   Kortrijk - Courtrai   Veurne - Fumes   Zoutleeuw - Leau.

Lifting comment

France, one of the worst insults to hurl at another motorist is // conduit comme un Beige (he drives like a Belgian)

Speed limits	Urban	Open road	Motorway
Car	50 kph	90 kph	120 kph
Towing	50 kph	90 kph	120 kph
Traffic regulations
Essential equipment	Warning triangle
Minimum driving age	18 years
Drink-drive limit	50mg alcohol per 100ml blood
Child in front seat	Min 12 years unless using child restraint
Seat Belt	Compulsory in front and rear seats
Motorcyclists	Must wear crash helmet and use headlamp at all times
Emergency telephone numbers
Police	101
Fire	100
Ambulance	100

Extracted from Haynes Glovebox guide DRIVING ABROAD by Robert Davies
This authoritive guide provides a wealth of information on all aspects of driving abroad. Order from www.haynes.co.uk