Driving in Bulgaria vs. Tonga: Key Differences Explained

When comparing road regulations in Bulgaria and Tonga, it's evident that key distinctions impact travel experiences. Bulgaria drives on the right, while Tonga follows the left. Speed limits vary significantly, and the presence of bus and cycle lanes is notable in Bulgaria. Understanding these nuances ensures safer and more enjoyable journeys in each country.

bulgariatonga

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in bulgaria is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bulgaria is 75

1.368 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bulgaria is 1.368 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Often used to separate traffic directions.
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

tonga:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

bulgaria:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

tonga:

Often used to separate traffic directions.

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

bulgaria:

Use rightmost lane.

tonga:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

bulgaria:

Yes

tonga:

Bus Lanes: Usage

bulgaria:

Primarily reserved for public transport.

tonga:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

bulgaria:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

bulgaria:

Yes

tonga:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

bulgaria:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tonga:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

bulgaria:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tonga:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

bulgaria:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bulgaria:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Speeds Limits

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	140 km/h	No specific highways with designated higher speed limits
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	100 km/h	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Yes	No widespread use
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Urban Areas: Standard

bulgaria:

50 km/h

tonga:

40-50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

bulgaria:

30 km/h

tonga:

40 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bulgaria:

90 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bulgaria:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bulgaria:

80 km/h

tonga:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bulgaria:

140 km/h

tonga:

No specific highways with designated higher speed limits

Highways: Buses And Vans

bulgaria:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bulgaria:

100 km/h

tonga:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

bulgaria:

N/A

tonga:

N/A

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

bulgaria:

Yes

tonga:

No widespread use

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

bulgaria:

Yes

tonga:

Common; paid directly to traffic officers

Signals

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Bulgaria	Not commonly used in Tonga
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Use indicators appropriately
Traffic Signs: Language	Bulgarian; symbols are standard	English and Tongan; 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

tonga:

Not commonly used in Tonga

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

bulgaria:

Signal when exiting

tonga:

Use indicators appropriately

Traffic Signs: Language

bulgaria:

Bulgarian; symbols are standard

tonga:

English and Tongan; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

bulgaria:

Triangle-shaped with a red border

tonga:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria		Tonga
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

bulgaria:

Not generally allowed

tonga:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

bulgaria:

Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs

tonga:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
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; proof may be 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

tonga:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bulgaria:

Yes, proof required

tonga:

Required; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bulgaria:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

tonga:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bulgaria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bulgaria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria		Tonga
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

tonga:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	Zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common at specific times or checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

bulgaria:

0.05%

tonga:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

bulgaria:

0.00%

tonga:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

bulgaria:

0.00%

tonga:

Zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

bulgaria:

Common; checkpoints used

tonga:

Common at specific times or checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

bulgaria:

Substantial

tonga:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria		Tonga
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal left when preparing to exit

Signaling: Exiting

bulgaria:

Signal right when preparing to exit

tonga:

Signal left when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies by region	Contact local police
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

tonga:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

bulgaria:

Varies by region

tonga:

Contact local police

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bulgaria:

Check with your insurance provider or local providers

tonga:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

bulgaria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bulgaria:

Mandatory

tonga:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...Small text specific to the section aboe, explaining the main ...

	Bulgaria	Tonga
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license	Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Up to €50	Mandatory; fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use	Up to €50	Fines for handheld phone use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; typically fined and points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines often paid onsite	Common; fines usually paid immediately
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Immediate payment preferred

Common Fines: Speeding

bulgaria:

Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license

tonga:

Varies; spot fines by discretion of traffic police

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bulgaria:

Up to €50

tonga:

Mandatory; fines for non-compliance

Common Fines: Phone Use

bulgaria:

Up to €50

tonga:

Fines for handheld phone use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bulgaria:

Varies; typically fined and points on license

tonga:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

bulgaria:

Common; fines often paid onsite

tonga:

Common; fines usually paid immediately

Payment: Deadline

bulgaria:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

tonga:

Immediate payment preferred