Driving in Hungary vs. Slovenia: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the road regulations of Hungary and Slovenia reveals intriguing contrasts in their driving practices. While Hungary enforces a strict zero-tolerance alcohol policy, Slovenia allows a small limit for general drivers. Additionally, the rules governing lane usage and speed limits display notable distinctions, ensuring travelers remain informed and secure on their journeys through these fascinating nations.
Lanes
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
slovenia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
slovenia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
slovenia:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
slovenia:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
slovenia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hungary:
N/A
slovenia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
slovenia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
slovenia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Yes, fines are often issued directly by police |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
slovenia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
slovenia:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
slovenia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Yes
slovenia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
slovenia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
slovenia:
Yes, fines are often issued directly by police
Signals
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in Slovenia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Slovenian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
slovenia:
Not used in Slovenia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
slovenia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
slovenia:
Slovenian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
slovenia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
slovenia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
slovenia:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | Accepted; no International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
slovenia:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
slovenia:
International Driving Permit recommended, but not mandatory for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
slovenia:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
slovenia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
slovenia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
slovenia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
slovenia:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
slovenia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; roadside checks conducted |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Severe fines; varies based on offense |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
slovenia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
slovenia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
slovenia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
slovenia:
Common; roadside checks conducted
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
slovenia:
Severe fines; varies based on offense
Emergency Services
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | 1987 for AMZS |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
slovenia:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
slovenia:
1987 for AMZS
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
slovenia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
slovenia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | Slovenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | Fines apply, €120 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | Fines apply, €250 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
slovenia:
Varies; €40 to €1200, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
slovenia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
slovenia:
Fines apply, €120
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
slovenia:
Fines apply, €250
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
slovenia:
Yes, often fines are paid directly or within a deadline
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
slovenia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay