Driving in Bulgaria vs Colombia: Essential Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Bulgaria and Colombia, understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions arise in speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol thresholds. While Bulgaria enforces stricter penalties for infractions, Colombia offers a more flexible approach to turns. Explore these vital driving contrasts to ensure a secure experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
colombia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
colombia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
colombia:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
colombia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
colombia:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
colombia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
colombia:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
colombia:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
Signals
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in Colombia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
colombia:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used in many areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bulgaria:
0.05%
colombia:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
colombia:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bulgaria:
Can result in license suspension
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 123 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 123 or local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
colombia:
123
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
colombia:
123 or local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Colombia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | $100 to $300, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations