Driving in Bhutan vs. Bulgaria: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Bhutan and Bulgaria, understanding the distinct driving regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring safety. From the contrasting sides of the road—left in Bhutan versus right in Bulgaria—to varied speed limits and lane usages, this comparison highlights essential differences for travelers. Familiarizing yourself with these driving norms can significantly enhance your journey abroad.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Primarily reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bhutan:
Left
bulgaria:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
bulgaria:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
bulgaria:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
bulgaria:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
bulgaria:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
bulgaria:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
bulgaria:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
bulgaria:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
bulgaria:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
bulgaria:
140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
bulgaria:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
bulgaria:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
bulgaria:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
bulgaria:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Bulgaria |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Bulgarian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bhutan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not generally allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
bulgaria:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
bulgaria:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
bulgaria:
Substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | Varies by region |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
bulgaria:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
bulgaria:
Varies by region
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
bulgaria:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Bulgaria | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines enforced | Up to €50 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Up to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; typically fined and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Common; fines often paid onsite |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
bulgaria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
bulgaria:
Up to €50
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
bulgaria:
Up to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay