Road Police

In Sofia, 588 serious road accidents have occurred this year, 11 fewer than the same period last year, according to Commissioner Valentin Krusharski, head of the "Road Police" at the Capital Directorate of Internal Affairs (SDVR). There have been 693 injured, a slight increase by two, while fatalities decreased to 25, which is 14 fewer compared to 2023.

Since the beginning of the year up to September 30, nine children between the ages of 0 and 17 have died in traffic accidents in Bulgaria, and 964 others have been injured, Commissioner Dimitar Michev, head of the "Road Police" department at the Main Directorate "National Police," reported at a briefing.

Today, October 7, a large-scale operation led by the Traffic Police is underway in Bulgaria. Authorities are intensifying checks on drivers to ensure compliance with regulations, particularly focusing on the use of seat belts and the mandatory use of specially designed car seats for transporting children.

In Bulgaria, accidents involving electric scooters are becoming more frequent, with many drivers disregarding traffic rules, leading to increased enforcement by authorities, reports BNT.

We investigated claims circulating on social media regarding an alleged accident involving a new police car from the Ministry of the Interior. Initially shared on the Facebook group "Disasters in Sofia" with a photo of the vehicle, the post suggested it was the first crash involving these new police cars.

In Bulgaria, road safety experts highlight a grim statistic: approximately 650 individuals lose their lives each year in road accidents, with an additional 8,000 sustaining serious injuries. Vladimir Todorov, chairman of the Association of Accident Victims, addressed this concerning trend on BNT, emphasizing a stagnation in accident rates over the past decade.

The "Road Infrastructure" Agency (RIA), responding to directives from the Ministry of Interior-Haskovo, has raised eyebrows by installing a staggering 468 road signs along a 25-kilometer section in the district, as reported by OFFNews. Regional Minister Andrey Tsekov has vowed to launch an inquiry into the matter.

New changes to the Criminal Code that affect drunk driving come into effect today. Ownership of the car will be proven - whether it is owned by the driver or the employer. The driver of a car, who was driving under the influence of narcotic substances, will also be detained.

Vehicles will be seized as evidence in the pre-trial proceedings.

The sales of new cars in Bulgaria jumped by 15% for the first six months of the year, according to the registration data of the "Road Police". During the period, 20,675 cars and lightweight vehicles (categories M1 and N1) were bought. A year earlier, they were 17,506.

On the last working day of the week, traditionally, increased traffic towards the sea side is expected. Despite the early hour, the traffic at the entrance to Burgas from AM "Trakia" is already busy.