Driving in Bulgaria vs. Hong Kong: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Bulgaria or Hong Kong reveals distinct contrasts in road rules and regulations. From driving sides and overtaking protocols to speed limits and signage languages, the nuances of each country's motoring culture play a crucial role in ensuring safety. Understanding these variations is essential for a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
hong kong:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
bulgaria:
Yes
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
hong kong:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually sent by mail |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
hong kong:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
hong kong:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
hong kong:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
Signals
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Used when lights are about to turn green |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Chinese and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
Turns
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
hong kong:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
hong kong:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
Roundabouts
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bulgaria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | Varies; usually contact through 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
hong kong:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Hong kong | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | HK$2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | HK$900, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay