I just thought I would post this - just to make people aware of a few slightly scary incidents that have happened to me whilst driving recently. I have driven on Bulgarian roads for over 4 years now ....without any incidents - I have probably been doing a few more kilometres recently and, before anyone says anything..... I am a sensible driver!!!

Those awful dogs that run at your vehicle - One shot out at me the other day as I was about 2 kms away from the village next to mine - Luckily I was driving the truck (alone with my son) and not my car, if I had been in my car I would probably have swerved to avoid any damage to the car and the dog - the thing is we could well have gone off the bridge I was on at the time. I had about 2 seconds to react, as it bombed out from the grass verge - I just held on to the steering wheel tight and waited for impact. The dog was killed, although I did not get out the truck. I am scared (almost have a phobia) of dogs and had it bit me I was alone with my then 5 yr old son 2 kms from civilisation. But it was quite upsetting - my son saw the messy dog on the road. I have always been on alert when driving past dogs, but more so now. Why do dogs do this?

Horses and carts with no lights :mad: - Driving in the dark on a straight road that I know well, you can see the lights of oncoming vehicles well in advance. I overtook a lorry on a long straight stretch, whilst alongside the lorry my lights picked up a horse and cart coming towards me with no lights on it. Luckily I was able to accelerate and get in front of the lorry before impact - but it was very close, I doubt I would have been able to brake in time. How dangerous is that?

Things flying off lorries - Just today my husband was driving and a small rock flew off an oncoming delivery truck and smashed his windscreen to smitherines. The lorry had long gone and probably has no idea of what his carelessness could have caused - luckily my husband just sat tight did not swerve - he saw it coming for a split second.

The brow of a hill - Yep, on my way to Burgas on Wednesday, (and not for the first time) vehicle on my side of the road just over the brow of a hill - what makes any driver want to overtake on the brow of a hill?

Between us (my husband and I) have driven thousands of kilometres here in Bulgaria without even a scrape -but the items above have all happened in the last month or so. We are on guard.
Just be careful - think on behalf of all the brainless road users!!!!

We understand how you feel as we have had that horrible feeling several times. We know now from experience that in the UK it is mirror, look, then move in BG it is move and wait for the bang if no bang then it was OK. Another one is for them to pull up to a 'T' junction they wait then see you coming then move anyway. Bicycles on the wrong side of the road in the Uk not normal here it is the norm :Headbang:When driving over here you should think for yourself and anything else that is on the road including dogs carts and donkeys.

Funny thing happened yesterday on the way back from Yambol in the space where the Police usually sit there was a calf grazing

I agree about Driving at Night ... an absolute nightmare.

Not only horses &
carts with no lights, but I've seen many cars with only 1 out of the 4 lights working. Not to mention it makes spotting the pot-holes harder to spot!

I always try to get home pre-dark when at all possible

...not to mention the worn-out, shiny tarmac combined with non-existent road markings (just where do they get that road paint that dissolves as if by magic within a few weeks?) - these 'features' also combine to make BG night driving just that little bit more terrifying!

Re Dogs chasing cars/ vehicles..
If water balloons are tossed (by the passenger)at the Dogs, and you score a direct hit, they will never chase your car/ vehicle again..

we rarely venture out at night or in icy conditions. the roads are too dangerous and unlit. one icy day our car veered over to the oncoming lane and had no control of the car . another time icy rain froze immediately on the windscreen blocking our view completely. another incident was going to dobrich in sunshine, then it began to snow heavily, took us 4 hours to get back as blizzards appear from nowhere. the weather can change in a moment here. if in any doubt, do not go out.