Driving Differences: Bulgaria vs. Thailand Explained
When navigating the roads of Bulgaria and Thailand, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that can enhance or diminish travel safety. Key variations include the side of the road on which vehicles operate, speed limits, and the use of lanes. Understanding these factors is crucial for a secure and enjoyable driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| 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
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bulgaria:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bulgaria:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bulgaria:
0.00%
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
bulgaria:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
bulgaria:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
bulgaria:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
bulgaria:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days