Bahrain vs. Bulgaria: Driving Differences You Need to Know
When navigating the roads of Bahrain and Bulgaria, motorists encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key differences include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol tolerance levels, all of which impact road safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | Primarily reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
bulgaria:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
bulgaria:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
bulgaria:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
bulgaria:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
bulgaria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 140 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
bulgaria:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
bulgaria:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
bulgaria:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
bulgaria:
140 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
bulgaria:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
bulgaria:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Bulgaria |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | Bulgarian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
bulgaria:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
bulgaria:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
bulgaria:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
bulgaria:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
bulgaria:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahrain:
Displayed on windshield
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
bulgaria:
0.05%
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
bulgaria:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
bulgaria:
Substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
bulgaria:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | Varies by region |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
bulgaria:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
bulgaria:
Varies by region
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Up to €50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | Up to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | Varies; typically fined and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Common; fines often paid onsite |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
bulgaria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
bulgaria:
Up to €50
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
bulgaria:
Up to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay