From Belgium to Ukraine: what is different on the road

Art. 12.1: the duty to give way to trams is general; the right-hand rule does not apply against a tram. Art. 16.9: a tram running on the carriageway is overtaken on the right — whether moving or stopped at a stop; on the left only if a narrow passage, a parked vehicle or another obstacle prevents passing on the right (without hindering oncoming traffic), or on a one-way road when traffic requires it. Art. 40.3: pass a tram stopped at a stop slowly; if the stop has no passenger island, a driver on the boarding side must stop, let people board and alight, and move off only at a moderate speed.

Para. 16.12: at any uncontrolled junction a tram has priority over vehicles approaching on an equal road (roundabouts excepted). If the tram is on the minor road, it gives way to traffic on the main road (para. 16.11 applies to everyone). Para. 16.7: when a green signal allows both trams and other vehicles to go, the tram has priority whichever way it is heading. Paras. 16.6 and 16.13: when turning left or making a U-turn, give way to a tram travelling in the same direction. Para. 17.3: away from junctions, where tram tracks cross your lane, the tram has priority (except when leaving a depot). Para. 18.8: if a tram is at a stop with no boarding island, stop and let passengers walk to or from its doors; drive on only once they have left the carriageway and the doors are closed.

Art. 2.39 defines a rond-point as a one-way road around a central island, signed D5, whose entries carry B1 or B5 signs. Art. 12.3.1 removes priority to the right for the driver on the ring. You do not signal when entering the ring; you must signal when leaving it (art. 19).

Para. 16.12 (since 2017): you give way to the right at junctions of equal roads 'except at junctions with circular traffic'; at uncontrolled junctions with circular traffic marked with sign 4.10, priority belongs to vehicles already on the ring. No separate give-way sign is needed for this — sign 4.10, which marks a roundabout, is enough. The tram's priority at uncontrolled junctions also does not apply on roundabouts. If the roundabout has traffic lights, follow the signals.

Art. 40.4.2: the duty applies as soon as a pedestrian is about to step onto the crossing, not only once they are walking. Art. 40.4.1: at a controlled crossing, even on green, let pedestrians who started crossing lawfully finish. Art. 19.5: when turning, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you turn into. Art. 40.5: do not enter a crossing if a queue may leave you stopped on it. Art. 17.2.5°: you may not overtake a vehicle that is approaching or has stopped at an uncontrolled crossing.

Para. 18.1: give way to pedestrians who could be obstructed or endangered. Para. 18.4: if a vehicle in an adjacent lane slows or stops before an uncontrolled crossing, slow down and stop if needed. Para. 18.2: at a signal-controlled crossing, on green give way to pedestrians still finishing their crossing. Para. 16.2: when turning right or left, give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into. Para. 18.5: give way to people with a white cane anywhere. Para. 18.6: do not enter a crossing if traffic is backed up beyond it. Para. 18.9: near a stopped 'Children' bus with orange beacons or hazard lights on, slow down and stop if needed.

Fine: 20 NMDH units. Failing to give way to pedestrians at an uncontrolled crossing: fine of 20 NMDH units (Code of Administrative Offences art. 122(1)).

Art. 11.1 has a separate version for each region. A C43 sign can set a different limit. Residential and meeting zones (sign F12a) are 20 km/h (art. 22bis); cycle zones are 30 km/h max (art. 22novies).

Para. 12.4: 50 km/h in built-up areas (marked by signs 5.49 and 5.50 — white place-name signs). Where road conditions allow, the road owner may raise the limit with signs, in agreement with the police (para. 12.8). Para. 12.5: residential zones (sign 5.34, and courtyard areas) and pedestrian zones — 20 km/h. Para. 12.7: when towing — 50 km/h maximum. On blue place-name signs (sign 5.51) the out-of-town limits apply (para. 12.6).

Fine: 20–100 NMDH units. Over the limit by more than 20 km/h: 20 NMDH units; by more than 50 km/h: 100 (Code of Administrative Offences art. 122(1) and (4)). Article 122 sets no fine for exceeding by 20 km/h or less.

Why the base value is 70: it is the default in two of the three regions (Flanders and Brussels), and it is safer to assume the lower figure until you see a sign. In Flanders 90 is allowed only where a C43 '90' sign is posted. Roads with 4+ lanes whose directions are separated by more than road markings (barrier, verge) are 120 km/h in all regions. In Wallonia, roads with a central lane (chaussée à voie centrale) are 70 km/h. Lorries over 7.5 t and buses have lower limits (art. 11.3).

Para. 12.6(g): 90 km/h on ordinary roads, 110 km/h on roads with separate carriageways divided by a central reservation. Para. 12.6(a): car towing a trailer — 80 km/h maximum. Para. 12.6(b): less than 2 years' experience — 70 km/h on all out-of-town roads. The same limits apply on roads through settlements marked with the blue sign 5.51.

Fine: 20–100 NMDH units. Over the limit by more than 20 km/h: 20 NMDH units; by more than 50 km/h: 100 (Code of Administrative Offences art. 122(1) and (4)).

Art. 11.2 (all three regions): 120 km/h on motorways and on roads with 4+ lanes whose directions are separated by more than markings. Vehicles over 3.5 t and buses: 90 km/h. Art. 21.2: driving below 70 km/h on a motorway is forbidden, though you must still adapt your speed to conditions (art. 10.1). Vehicles that cannot reach 70 km/h on the level are not allowed on motorways (art. 21.1).

Para. 12.6(g): 130 km/h on a road marked with sign 5.1 'Motorway'. Para. 12.6(a): with a trailer — 80 km/h. Para. 12.6(b): less than 2 years' experience — 70 km/h on all roads outside built-up areas, motorways included.

Art. 34 §1 of the Road Traffic Act: 0.5 to 0.8 g/l is an offence; from 0.8 g/l (0.35 mg/l) it is a more serious offence (art. 34 §2) with higher fines. Deliberately refusing the test is punished in the same way as that more serious case.

Traffic Rules para. 2.9(a) bans driving while intoxicated but gives no number. The threshold is in the Instruction on detecting intoxication in drivers (Interior and Health Ministries order No. 1452/735), section II para. 7: intoxication means a device reading above 0.2 per mille. Refusing the test is punished the same as drink-driving (Code of Administrative Offences art. 130(1)). Drinking after a crash, or after being stopped by police and before the test, is also prohibited (Traffic Rules para. 2.10, Code art. 130(4)).

Fine: 1,000–2,000 NMDH units, driving ban 12–36 months. Fine of 1,000 NMDH units plus a 1-year driving ban; a repeat within a year — 2,000 units and a 3-year ban, or 10 days' administrative detention (Code of Administrative Offences art. 130).

Art. 34 §3 of the Road Traffic Act: for these drivers the threshold is 0.2 g/l in blood or 0.09 mg/l in exhaled air.

The 0.2 per mille threshold in section II para. 7 of the Instruction (order No. 1452/735) applies to all drivers regardless of experience or licence category.

Art. 8.4 covers any device with a screen (phone, tablet, satnav).

Traffic Rules para. 2.9(d): while moving you must not use communication devices held in your hand (emergency vehicles on duty excepted). Code of Administrative Offences art. 122(2) punishes using communication devices without hands-free equipment. The general duty not to be distracted is in para. 2.3(b).

Fine: 30 NMDH units. Fine of 30 NMDH units (Code of Administrative Offences art. 122(2)).

Art. 30: front fog lights only in fog, snowfall or heavy rain; the rear fog light only when visibility is below about 100 m or in heavy rain. Motorcycles have a separate rule (art. 30bis).

Traffic Rules para. 9.8 (as amended by Cabinet resolution No. 1105 of 20.10.2023): all motor vehicles outside built-up areas must have daytime running lights on, or dipped headlights if they have no DRLs. The current text sets no seasonal period. In town, dipped headlights by day are required only in specific cases: in a convoy, in tunnels, when towing, for buses carrying organised groups of children, heavy or dangerous loads, etc. (para. 9.8(a)–(d)).

Art. 9.8 (couloir de secours / reddingsstrook) applies as soon as a queue forms, not only when you hear a siren. The corridor may be used by emergency vehicles, services called by the police or prosecutor, and tow trucks heading to an incident (art. 2.70). Only emergency vehicles may drive on the hard shoulder; called-in services and tow trucks only to reach an incident on a motorway when traffic is heavily slowed (art. 9.7).

Para. 3.2: drivers who could obstruct a vehicle with a blue beacon and/or siren must give way to it; if red or blue-and-red beacons are on (escorted convoy), stop at the right edge of the carriageway or on the right shoulder (on a dual carriageway — drivers going the same way). The rules do not say how to make room in a jam (between which lanes). Para. 3.5: when passing a stationary vehicle with a blue beacon on or beside the road, slow to 40 km/h.

Fine: 40 NMDH units. Failing to give way to an emergency vehicle with its signals on: fine of 40 NMDH units (Code of Administrative Offences art. 122(3)).

Art. 40ter: the same distances apply to riders of two-wheel mopeds; approach cycle crossings slowly and stop if needed. Art. 22novies: in a cycle zone a cyclist may use the whole carriageway width on a one-way road (on two-way roads the right half); cars may enter but must not overtake. Under B22/B23 plates cyclists may turn right or go straight on red — expect them. Art. 12.4bis: when crossing a cycle track (e.g. turning or leaving a property) give way to those riding on it.

Para. 1.7: drivers must be especially careful around cyclists. Para. 13.3: keep a safe lateral gap when overtaking, passing or going around. Para. 16.2: when turning right or left, give way to cyclists going straight in the same direction. Sign 4.23 'Road for shared use by cars and cyclists' marks local streets for mixed traffic; the rules attach no special speed limit or overtaking ban to it. Cycle lanes on the carriageway are marked with sign 5.88 and road markings; cyclists may use bus lanes (signs 5.8, 5.11; para. 17.1).

Art. 81.4 of the Code sets the tyre requirements (minimum tread depth 1.6 mm) and contains no winter-tyre obligation. Studs are banned in principle, but the ministerial order of 28.09.1976 allows them from 1 November to 31 March: studs on all wheels, max 90 km/h on motorways and 2+2-lane roads and 60 km/h on other roads, with a '60 km' plate on the rear.

Note to para. 31.4.5: if you regularly drive on slippery roads, tyres suited to the conditions are recommended. Mandatory: minimum tread depth for cars 1.6 mm (para. 31.4.5(a)); studded and non-studded, or winter and non-winter tyres must not be mixed on one axle (para. 31.4.5(g)). Cars with studded tyres must carry a 'Studs' sign at the rear — a triangle with the letter 'Ш' (para. 30.3(l)).

Art. 35.1.1: children under 3 may not travel in seats without a seat belt; children under 135 cm may not travel in front seats without a belt. Art. 35.1.2: if a third seat cannot physically fit after two child seats, a third child aged 3+ may ride in the back with a belt. For occasional short trips without a seat available, children aged 3+ may ride in the back with a belt — but not when their own parent is driving.

Para. 21.11(b): children under 150 cm tall may not be carried without a child restraint system (bus services and emergency vehicles excepted). Paras. 21.12–21.16: the seat must match the child's weight and height, be fitted per the manufacturer's instructions, and the child must be buckled in. Para. 21.13: child seats are fitted outside the front row; a child under three may ride in front of a car in a rear-facing seat with the front airbag switched off.

Fine: 30–50 NMDH units. Breaking child transport rules: fine of 30 NMDH units; a repeat within a year — 50 (Code of Administrative Offences art. 121(10), (11)).

Art. 3 §2 of the Royal Decree of 23.03.1998: carry the licence; it must be valid for the vehicle category, and the driver must have reached the Belgian minimum age for that category. People registered in a Belgian municipality with their normal residence there may drive only with a Belgian or European licence. Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, art. 3: a valid licence issued by Ukraine is recognised throughout the EU for holders of temporary protection until that protection ceases; you may be asked for a passport or temporary-protection document to verify identity. EUR-Lex lists the regulation as in force. Temporary protection was extended to 4 March 2028 by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/1912; new applicants must show, where applicable, that they meet their military obligations in Ukraine.

Road Traffic Act, art. 15(9): national and international driving licences are valid in Ukraine in line with the Convention on Road Traffic; issue and exchange rules are set by the Cabinet of Ministers. Traffic Rules para. 2.1(a): the driver must carry a licence for the relevant category. Whether you also need an international permit depends on the issuing country and the Convention — check before travelling.

Royal Decree of 13.02.1991, art. 2: foreign vehicles without a Belgian policy are admitted if their liability is covered by an international insurance certificate; the countries exempt from this are listed by name — Ukraine is not among them. A vehicle's home country is determined by its number plate (art. 1). Act of 21.11.1989, art. 2: third-party liability insurance is compulsory.

Traffic Rules para. 2.1(g): the driver must carry a valid compulsory motor third-party liability policy (recorded in the central insurance database) or a Green Card certificate issued by a foreign insurer under the international Green Card system, electronic or paper. Show it to police on request (para. 2.4(a)).

Art. 65 §3 of the Road Traffic Act: the car is held at the driver's cost and risk until the deposit is paid — for up to 96 hours; after that the prosecutor may order it seized. A deposit is also required if earlier unpaid fines are on record in your name. Paying on the spot normally ends the prosecution; an administrative fee is added to the amount.

Code of Administrative Offences art. 16: foreigners and stateless persons in Ukraine are liable on the same basis as citizens; cases involving persons with immunity are handled through diplomatic channels. Separately: driving a car past its temporary import deadline, handing it to someone else or using it to earn money in Ukraine is fined 500 NMDH units (art. 121(8)).