Road signs in Bulgaria

Bilingual road sign near Dragoman (border Bulgaria/Serbia)

Road signs in the Republic of Bulgaria were introduced by the Road Traffic Act and are regulated by:

• Regulations for the implementation of the Road Traffic Act, adopted by a Decree of the Council of Ministers;
• Ordinance No. 18 of July 23, 2001 on road signaling with traffic signs, issued by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works.

Both normative documents are harmonized with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals (1968), which was ratified by Bulgaria on December 28, 1978 (This Convention was not published in the State Gazette). Bulgaria made two declarations upon signature, one reservation upon ratification and one declaration upon ratification. One reservation made upon ratification is regarding transliteration into Latin characters solely to indicate the terminal points of international routes passing through Bulgaria and places of interest to international tourism. This is due to the fact that the Cyrillic script is used in the writing system of the Bulgarian language, the official language of Bulgaria.

Road signs in Bulgaria use the SNV typeface, which is also used in neighboring countries in the Balkans such as Romania, Serbia and North Macedonia. Inscriptions on road signs are usually written in both Bulgarian and English (Cyrillic and Latin scripts respectively), including settlement names.

Today there are some differences between the two documents regarding road signs. The latest changes in Ordinance No. 18 were promulgated in the State Gazette No. 13, dated February 14, 2020. These changes are not reflected in the Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Act.

Warning signs

• 
  А1
  Right curve
• 
  А2
  Left curve
• 
  А3
  Double curve, first at right
• 
  А4
  Double curve, first at left
• 
  А5
  Steep downhill
• 
  А6
  Steep uphill
• 
  А7
  Road narrows — two-sided
• 
  А8
  Road narrows - on the right
• 
  А9
  Road narrows - on the left
• 
  А10
  Opening bridge
• 
  А11
  Unprotected quayside or riverbank
• 
  А12
  Uneven road
• 
  А13
  Speed bump
• 
  А14
  Dangerous roadside
• 
  А15
  Slippery road
• 
  А16
  Loose chippings
• 
  А17
  Falling rocks
• 
  А18
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  А19
  Children area
• 
  А20
  Cyclists
• 
  А21
  Cattle
• 
  А22
  Deer
• 
  А23
  Roadworks
• 
  А24
  Traffic lights
• 
  А25
  Crossroads without priority (give way to the vehicles coming from the right)
• 
  А26
  Intersection with a secondary road
• 
  А27
  Secondary road junction on the right
• 
  А28
  Secondary road junction on the left
• 
  А29
  Roundabout ahead
• 
  А30
  Two - way traffic
• 
  А31
  Trams
• 
  А32
  Level crossing with barriers ahead
• 
  А33
  Level crossing without barriers ahead
• 
  А34.1
  Single track level crossing
• 
  А34.2
  Multitrack level crossing
• 
  А35.1
  Distance to the road-railway crossing
• 
  А35.2
  Distance to the road-railway crossing
• 
  А35.3
  Distance to the road-railway crossing
• 
  А36
  Low-flying aircraft
• 
  А37
  Crosswinds
• 
  А38
  Tunnel
• 
  А39
  Other hazards
• 
  А40
  Accident-prone road area
• 
  А41
  Traffic jam
• 
  А42
  Fog
• 
  А43
  A traffic accident has occurred

Priority signs

• 
  Б1
  Give way
• 
  Б2
  Stop
• 
  Б3
  Priority road
• 
  Б4
  End of priority road
• 
  Б5
  Give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction
• 
  Б6
  Priority over vehicles in opposite direction

Prohibitory signs

• 
  В1
  No entry
• 
  В2
  Road closed to all traffic
• 
  В3
  No motor vehicles
• 
  В4
  No trucks/heavy goods vehicles
• 
  В5
  No trucks/heavy goods vehicles pulling trailers
• 
  В6
  No trailers
• 
  В7
  No tractors
• 
  В8
  No motorcycles
• 
  В9
  No bicycles
• 
  В10
  No horse-drawn vehicles
• 
  В11
  No handcarts
• 
  В12
  No pedestrians
• 
  В13
  No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
• 
  В14
  No trucks and motorbikes
• 
  В15
  Width limit (2.5 metres)
• 
  В16
  Height limit (3.5 metres)
• 
  В17
  Length limit (12 metres)
• 
  В18
  Weight limit (9.5 tonnes)
• 
  В19
  Weight limit per axle
• 
  В20
  No traffic allowed without indicated minimum distance between vehicles
• 
  В21
  No right turn
• 
  В22
  No left turn
• 
  В23
  No U-turn
• 
  В24
  No overtaking
• 
  В25
  No overtaking by trucks/heavy goods vehicles
• 
  В26
  Speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  В26
  Speed limit (60 km/h)
• 
  В26
  Speed limit (80 km/h)
• 
  В27
  Do not block
• 
  В28
  No parking
• 
  В29
  Stop for customs
• 
  В30
  No sound signals
• 
  В31
  End of no overtaking zone
• 
  В32
  End of no overtaking by trucks/heavy goods vehicles zone
• 
  В33
  End of speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  В34
  End of all restrictions

Mandatory signs

• 
  Г1
  Keep straight
• 
  Г2
  Turn right ahead
• 
  Г3
  Turn left ahead
• 
  Г4
  Turn right or go straight ahead
• 
  Г5
  Turn left or go straight ahead
• 
  Г6
  Turn left or right ahead
• 
  Г7
  Turn right before the sign
• 
  Г8
  Turn left before the sign
• 
  Г9
  Keep right
• 
  Г10
  Keep left
• 
  Г11
  Keep left or right
• 
  Г12
  Roundabout
• 
  Г13
  Exclusive bus or trolleybus lane
• 
  Г14
  Bicycle lane
• 
  Г15
  Pedestrian lane
• 
  Г16
  Segregated pedestrian and bicycle path
• 
  Г17
  Minimum speed limit (30 km/h)
• 
  Г17
  Minimum speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  Г18
  End of minimum speed limit (30 km/h)
• 
  Г18
  End of minimum speed limit (50 km/h)
• 
  Г19
  Snow chains compulsory
• 
  Г20
  Vehicles carrying hazardous goods should turn left

Special regulations signs

• 
  Д1
  Number of lanes and traffic directions
• 
  Д2
  Additional road lane for slow-moving road vehicles
• 
  Д2
  Additional road lane for slow-moving road vehicles
• 
  Д2
  Additional road lane for slow-moving road vehicles
• 
  Д3
  Pre-compilation indicator
• 
  Д4
  One-way traffic
• 
  Д5
  Motorway
• 
  Д6
  End of motorway
• 
  Д7
  Limited-access highway (option 1)
• 
  Д7
  Limited-access highway (option 2)
• 
  Д8
  End of limited-access highway (option 1)
• 
  Д8
  End of limited-access highway (option 2)
• 
  Д9
  Entrance to tunnel (option 1)
• 
  Д9
  Entrance to tunnel (option 2)
• 
  Д10
  End of tunnel (option 1)
• 
  Д10
  End of tunnel (option 2)
• 
  Д11
  Entrance to built-up area
• 
  Д12
  End of built-up area
• 
  Д13
  No parking zone
• 
  Д14
  End of no parking zone
• 
  Д15
  Entrance to residential area zone
• 
  Д16
  End of residential area zone
• 
  Д17
  Pedestrian zone
• 
  Д18
  Hospital
• 
  Д19
  Parking
• 
  Д20
  Paid parking
• 
  Д21
  Disabled people parking
• 
  Д22
  Tram stop
• 
  Д23
  Trolleybus stop
• 
  Д24
  Bus stop
• 
  Д25
  Vignette road
• 
  Д25
  Vignette and toll road
• 
  Д25
  Toll road

Indication signs

• 
  Е1
  Medical center
• 
  Е2
  A hospital with an emergency department
• 
  Е3
  Police
• 
  Е4
  Telephone
• 
  E5 Technical service station
• 
  E6
  Car wash
• 
  Е7.1
  Gas station
• 
  Е7.2
  Gas station
• 
  Е7.3
  Gas station that also offers unleaded gasoline
• 
  E8
  Tourist information point
• 
  E9
  Hotel or motel
• 
  E10
  Restaurant
• 
  E11
  Café
• 
  E12
  Camping site
• 
  E13
  Caravan site
• 
  E14
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  E15
  Youth hostel
• 
  E16
  Picnic site
• 
  E17
  Starting point for walks
• 
  E18
  Drinking water
• 
  Е19
  Toilet
• 
  Е20
  Taxi stand
• 
  Е21
  Pedestrian onderpass
• 
  Е22
  National speed limits (used at border crossings with other countries)
• 
  Е24
  Control with automated technical means or systems
• 
  Е25
  Charging station for electric vehicles

Information signs

• 
  Ж1
  Preliminary route guide sign
• 
  Ж1
  Preliminary route guide sign
• 
  Ж2
  Route guide sign with destinations used on highways
• 
  Ж2
  Route guide sign with destinations used on roads
• 
  Ж2
  Route guide sign with destinations used inside cities
• 
  Ж4
  Alternative way of driving in connection with the prohibition on turning left
• 
  Ж5
  Truck route
• 
  Ж7
  Pointing arrow
• 
  Ж7
  Pointing arrow
• 
  Ж7
  Pointing arrow
• 
  Ж8
  Directions to ferry
• 
  Ж9
  U-turn permitted
• 
  Ж10
  Destinations sign with distances used on highways
• 
  Ж10
  Destinations sign with distances used on roads
• 
  Ж11
  Object name (river)
• 
  Ж12
  Entry to no through road
• 
  Ж13
  Dead end
• 
  Ж14
  Indicating the number and direction of traffic lanes
• 
  Ж18
  Emergency escape lane for runaway vehicles
• 
  Ж19
  50 km/h advisory speed
• 
  Ж20/Ж21
  Highway route number sign
• 
  Ж20
  Motorway number according to the national classification
• 
  Ж20
  National classification road number
• 
  Ж21
  Road number according to the international classification
• 
  Ж22
  Kilometer sign

Additional plates

• 
  Т1
  Above sign effective in 1300 metres
• 
  Т2
  Sign area effective
• 
  Т3
  Start
• 
  Т4
  Continue
• 
  Т5
  End
• 
  Т6
  Road vehicle to which the action of the road sign applies
• 
  Т7
  A road vehicle to which the effect of the traffic sign does not apply
• 
  Т8
  Stop ahead in 50 metres (placed below the give way sign to warn of a stop sign ahead)
• 
  Т9
  Arrow
• 
  Т10
  Validity time of the traffic sign
• 
  Т11
  A pointer to an object
• 
  Т12
  Way of parking the road vehicles
• 
  Т13
  Diagram of priority road direction
• 
  T14.1
  Road conditions (ice)
• 
  T14.2
  Road conditions (rainfall)
• 
  T15
  Working days
• 
  T16
  Saturdays, Sundays and holidays
• 
  T17
  Text plate
• 
  T18.1
  Plate indicating that unattended vehicle will be towed-away at the expense of the vehicle owner
• 
  T18.2
  Placement of restrictive measures

Unofficial road signs

• 
  EU country border

External links

• Media related to Road signs in Bulgaria at Wikimedia Commons