Driving Differences: Bulgaria vs. Samoa Explained
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road conduct is essential for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison between Bulgaria and Samoa reveals notable contrasts, including driving sides—right in Bulgaria and left in Samoa—as well as differing speed limits and vehicle regulations. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions can greatly enhance your travel experience and safety.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost 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 | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bulgaria:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
bulgaria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
Yes
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Signals
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; 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
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| 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 | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bulgaria:
0.05%
samoa:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bulgaria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards