Travelling abroad

The same traffic rules do often apply in European countries. For example, you are obliged to wear your seat belt everywhere and phone calls without a hands-free set or Bluetooth are strictly prohibited in almost the entire European Union. All the same, many traffic rules in our neighbouring countries are different. And if you are caught violating the traffic regulations abroad, the fine will end up in your Belgian letterbox. Check out this list of the main traffic rules before you set off on your trip.

France  

  • In France, two different environmental zones apply: zones à circulation restreinte (ZCR, restricted traffic zones) and zones de protection de l’air (ZPA, air protection zones). You can check online to see where these zones apply. You will always need an eco-vignette to drive into a ZCR; in the ZPA, this is only required in the event of bad weather or severe air pollution. These eco-vignettes come in six different colours, depending on the Euro rating of your car, and can be ordered online.

  • If you have had your driving licence for less than three years, you are permitted to have a maximum blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02%. For experienced drivers, a BAC of 0.05% applies.

  • You have to pay toll fees on many French roads. A Bip&Go subscription allows you to travel smoothly on all French motorways without having to queue at the toll stations. You will pay the bill later by direct debit.

Germany

  • Most German cities today have an Umweltzone or environmental zone. You need an environmental sticker to drive into these zones. These stickers can be requested online. Only a green sticker (for petrol and hybrid cars with Euro rating 1 and diesel cars with Euro rating 4 or higher, among others) gives you access to all German cities.

     

  • The alcohol limit for drivers under the age of 21 or with less than two years of driving experience is 0.0% in Germany. For experienced drivers, the level is 0.05%.

Spain

  • Environmental zones apply in Madrid and Barcelona. Environmental stickers come in four different colours: blue (no emissions), green-blue (hybrid and gas-powered vehicles), green (petrol vehicles with Euro rating 4, 5 or 6 and diesel vehicles with Euro rating 6) and yellow (petrol vehicles with Euro rating 3 and diesel vehicles with Euro rating 4 or 5). Older cars cannot get a sticker and are therefore not allowed to enter the environmental zones. The centre of Madrid is a permanent environmental zone. The ring road becomes a temporary environmental zone in the event of heavy air pollution. If this lasts for four days, vehicles with a yellow sticker are not allowed on the ring road either. The environmental zone in Barcelona only applies in the event of serious air pollution. You can buy a sticker in some post offices.

  • •    You must have two warning triangles in the car. Put one 50 metres in front of the car and the other 50 metres behind the car. Although this is not mandatory for tourists, not all police officers are aware of this fact.

  • The alcohol limit for drivers who have held a driving licence for less than two years is 0.03%. For experienced drivers, the limit is 0.05%.

  • You have to pay toll fees on many Spanish roads. You can use Bip&Go in this country too.

Italy

  • You are not allowed to drive into the centre of some major cities. Only cars with a registered number plate can enter a Zona Traffico Limitato (ZTL), as these zones are known. If necessary, your hotel can pass on your number plate details to the police so that you can load and unload your luggage.

  • Environmental zones also apply in many Italian cities. The rules are different and very complex in most cities. A complete overview, you can read online.

  • Outside the built-up area, passenger cars must also drive with their headlights on during the day.

  • The alcohol limit for drivers who have held a driving licence for less than three years is 0.0%. For experienced drivers, the limit is 0.05%.

  • If there are no priority signs or triangular priority markings on a roundabout, you must give way to road users coming from the right.

Switzerland

  • A vignette (toll disc) is compulsory on Swiss motorways. You can buy a vignette online.

  • Passenger cars must also drive with their headlights on during the day.

  • Drivers who have held their driving licence for less than three years are only permitted to have a blood alcohol content of 0.01%. For all other drivers, a BAC of 0.05% applies.

  • Radar detection equipment in the vehicle and the signalling of speed cameras or average speed checks are strictly prohibited. It is not enough to simply deactivate the software, you must actually remove it from all your devices.

  • Your warning triangle must be within easy reach.

Austria

  • In Austria, a vignette (toll disc) is compulsory on all motorways. You can buy one online.

  • Traffic lights work in a different way: red and orange together mean you should prepare to drive through, whereas flashing green means you must prepare to stop.

  • If you have had your driving licence for less than three years, an alcohol limit of 0.01% applies. For all other drivers, a limit of 0.05% applies.

  • Radar detection equipment in the vehicle is prohibited, whereas the use of devices for signalling speed cameras or average speed checks (e.g. on smartphone apps) is permitted. Dashcams are also prohibited in Austria.

  • You must always maintain a distance from the vehicle in front of you that is 45 to 50% of your driving speed in metres. For example: at 100 kilometres per hour, you must keep 45 to 50 metres away.

United Kingdom

  • Please note: in the United Kingdom you must drive on the left-hand side of the road. Speeds are expressed in miles.

  • Priority from the right does not apply. The priority rules are indicated at road junctions.

  • In London, a congestion charge (toll in busy traffic areas) applies from Monday to Friday, recognisable by signs and markings with the capital letter ‘C’ in a red circle. Visitors must also register their car and pay the tax. You can do so online.

Are you looking for the traffic rules of another country or wish to check something else? The Going abroad app contains all the important information you need about the various traffic rules in the European Union.