Driving in Bulgaria vs. Cuba: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the contrasting driving norms in Bulgaria and Cuba reveals essential insights for travelers. While Bulgaria boasts bus lanes and a higher speed limit on highways, Cuba emphasizes adherence to local regulations and has stricter alcohol limits. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in either of these unique destinations.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bulgaria:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
Yes
cuba:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bulgaria:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Varies by area, check for local signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
cuba:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay