Belgium

Here is information to help drivers who are visiting Belgium.

Visitor Information: 

• In 2014 Belgium had a population of 11,150,516 with 6,993,767 6,861.777 registered vehicles (2013).
• 5,493,472 cars, 15,822 buses, 739,402714,370 trucks and 450,793motorcycles.
• The length of the road network is 155,210 kilometres of which 1,763 is motorway and 14,578 is express highway.
• Only 12% of trucks on Belgian roads are registered in Belgium
• The country produces 220,000 tons of chocolate and over 800 kinds of beer.
• The official languages are Dutch (Flemish) French and German (0.06 % of pop.)
• The international vehicle identity plate is 'B'.

Collision & Breakdown Information: 

• If you are involved in a collision, you must stop and help injured people, collaborate in avoiding danger and other possible accidents and call the police if there are injured people or if the road cannot be cleared or if there is a risk of causing secondary accidents (The Police telephone number is 101 from a landline or 112 from a mobile phone). If you see an accident with injuries, you are obliged by law to stop and help injured people.
• If broken down on the motorway, move the vehicle to the hard shoulder as soon as possible and call for assistance using your cell phone or an orange emergency telephone, located at the side of the carriageway. Do not stay in the car, get everybody out of the car behind the crash barrier. On all roads, ensure you wear a high visibility vest before getting out of your vehicle. In the event of an accident or breakdown, your warning triangle must be placed 30 metres behind the vehicle on ordinary roads and 100 metres on motorways to warn other traffic. It must be visible at a distance of 150 meters.

Useful Phrase 1 - English: 

Call the Police!

Useful Phrase 1 - Destination: 

Bel de politie! / Appelez la police!

Useful Phrase 2 - English: 

Do you speak English?

Useful Phrase 2 - Destination: 

Spreekt u Engels? / Parlez vous anglais?

Useful Phrase 3 - English: 

My car has broken down.

Useful Phrase 3 - Destination: 

Mijn auto staat in panne. / Ma voiture est en panne.

Useful Phrase 4 - English: 

Where is the nearest fuel station?

Useful Phrase 4 - Destination: 

Waar is het meest nabije tankstation? / Où est la station-service la plus proche?

Useful Phrase 5 - English: 

I am lost.

Useful Phrase 5 - Destination: 

ik ben verdwaald / je suis perdu, pouvez-vous m'aider?

Useful Phrase 6 - English: 

Thank you!

Useful Phrase 6 - Destination: 

Dank u! / Merci!

Road Traffic Policing: 

• Vehicles coming from the right keep their priority even if they have stopped.
• Motorcycle riders and passengers must wear a helmet, gloves and protective boots or shoes over the ankle, and wear clothing with long trousers and sleeves
• Special traffic signs show where it is illegal to use cruise control.
• In one-way streets, cyclists may use both directions, if indicated by a traffic sign.
• All vehicles must be equipped with a fluorescent waistcoat, which must be worn in case of breakdown.
• Trucks may only overtake on highways if specially allowed by a sign.

Road Traffic Enforcement: 

• Belgian Police website www.police.be
• Police emergency contact number is 101 from landline or 112 from mobile

Individual limits and specific driving requirements: 

For more information about driving in Belgium please see the European Commission Road Safety Link - 'Going Abroad'

http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/going_abroad/belgium/index_en.htm