Driving Differences: Bulgaria vs. India Explained
When exploring the roads of Bulgaria and India, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key differences emerge in lane usage, speed limits, and road etiquette, with Bulgaria adhering to right-side driving while India drives on the left. This comparison ensures travelers are well-prepared for their adventures abroad.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, but only when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some metropolitan areas |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
india:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
bulgaria:
Yes
india:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
india:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
Yes
india:
Yes, in some areas
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 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 | 60-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities and highways |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
india:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
india:
60-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
india:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
india:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
india:
60-80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bulgaria:
Yes
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
india:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in India |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | More common due to varied vehicle conditions |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | English and local languages; 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
india:
Not used in India
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bulgaria:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bulgaria:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
india:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
Left Turn: General
bulgaria:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | PUC sticker displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Only in emergency situations | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to other countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass |
Use Of Horn: Limited
bulgaria:
Only in emergency situations
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
Pedestrians Priority
bulgaria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies by state; fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bulgaria:
0.05%
india:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
bulgaria:
Can result in license suspension
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal if turning upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
bulgaria:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
bulgaria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | India | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay