Bulgaria vs. Malaysia: Key Driving Differences Explained
When preparing for a journey on the roads of Bulgaria or Malaysia, understanding their unique driving customs is essential for safe navigation. Key distinctions, such as driving on the right versus the left, varying speed limits, and diverse regulations regarding overtaking, can significantly impact your experience. Stay informed to ensure a smooth and secure ride in either country.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| 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 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bulgaria:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: On Left
bulgaria:
Yes
malaysia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
malaysia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bulgaria:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Malay and English; 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
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
malaysia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
malaysia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on 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
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines |
Limits: General Drivers
bulgaria:
0.05%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Roundabouts
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bulgaria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations