04-02-2007, 10:16 AM
The word in the street has it that , from 2008 , you'll need a "vignette" displayed on your windscreen , to drive the ( excellent ) Belgian motorways ; how sad ! ( Talk about under-reporting the inflation , everywhere ? )
This should cost Euro60 ( 40 squids , give or take a few pennies ) annually , for unlimited use - similar to Swiss model , which I always find sooo-unfriendly , all that fuss and dour , sour , uniformed money-grabbers , when crossing the Swiss border !
On the positive side : all experiences , both : own and shared , indicate that , driving a U.K. reg'd vehicle , your chance of getting fined here : diminishes drastically ;
- instead , when accosted by Belg. police for speeding , illegal/expired parking , lack of equipment etc , you're far more likely to be given a ticking-off , in up to 4 languages
( Flemish/French, German and YES : usually passable English ! ) and politely sent off , with a warning !
The official speed-limit remains at 120 km/h , but the police have repeatedly confirmed that up to "around" 130 km/h , they would be tolerant , i.e. as in non-reacting !
Beware of drink-driving , though : for failing the breathalyser or blood test , the spot-fine of up to Euro9.900 ( that's over 6-and-half K squids ) is now possible , alone or combined with up to 6 months imprisonment ( but : don't panic , the food in jail is v. v. good , reportedly ! as is usual in Belgo-Land ...)
This should cost Euro60 ( 40 squids , give or take a few pennies ) annually , for unlimited use - similar to Swiss model , which I always find sooo-unfriendly , all that fuss and dour , sour , uniformed money-grabbers , when crossing the Swiss border !
On the positive side : all experiences , both : own and shared , indicate that , driving a U.K. reg'd vehicle , your chance of getting fined here : diminishes drastically ;
- instead , when accosted by Belg. police for speeding , illegal/expired parking , lack of equipment etc , you're far more likely to be given a ticking-off , in up to 4 languages
( Flemish/French, German and YES : usually passable English ! ) and politely sent off , with a warning !
The official speed-limit remains at 120 km/h , but the police have repeatedly confirmed that up to "around" 130 km/h , they would be tolerant , i.e. as in non-reacting !
Beware of drink-driving , though : for failing the breathalyser or blood test , the spot-fine of up to Euro9.900 ( that's over 6-and-half K squids ) is now possible , alone or combined with up to 6 months imprisonment ( but : don't panic , the food in jail is v. v. good , reportedly ! as is usual in Belgo-Land ...)