Driving in Bulgaria vs. Japan: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bulgaria and Japan, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. From the driving side—right in Bulgaria versus left in Japan—to varying speed limits and unique signage, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Explore the essential contrasts to enhance your road safety and confidence in either country.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking is 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 during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bulgaria:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
bulgaria:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bulgaria:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bulgaria:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; 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
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| 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
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
bulgaria:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bulgaria:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bulgaria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days