Road traffic management

Bulgarian taxi drivers are set to stage a national protest on November 20, planning to halt traffic for about an hour in major cities across the country, as well as on highways and roads leading to border crossings. The demonstration aims to draw attention to what drivers describe as a drastic surge in mandatory "Civil Liability" insurance costs, which they say have increased tenfold.

Authorities in Paris have begun to restrict vehicle traffic in a large section of the city center, announcing that fines will be enforced starting in spring 2025.

The ban affects four municipal districts (arrondissements, in french) in the heart of the French capital.

Heavy traffic was reported on the Athens-Lamia highway as travelers returned from the long weekend and public holiday of "Ochi Day" on Monday, October 28.

Bulgaria's toll system now has the technical capability to track average vehicle speeds, as announced by the National Toll Management following a meeting with Regional Development Minister Violeta Koritarova. Initial testing of the system on Sofia's Northern Speed Tangent revealed one vehicle traveling at an average speed of 203 km/h.

Traffic units across the country have recently begun using an AI-driven speed radar system produced under the coordination of the Turkish defense industry.

This new system allows for simultaneous ticketing for automobiles, trucks, pickup trucks, motorcyclists or other vehicles traveling on a four-lane road.

In September, over 28,000 drivers were caught violating the speed limit of 70 km/h on Sofia's "Bulgaria" Boulevard. The highest recorded speed was 193 km/h, highlighting serious concerns about compliance with traffic regulations in this area.

Athens' 45-year-old road space rationing system (daktylios), which limits entry to the center based on whether license plates end with an odd or even number, is now seen as a major contributor to the city's worsening traffic congestion, with experts calling for a comprehensive review. 

Even if the Greek capital had the best traffic police force in the world and even if it had smart cameras installed everywhere, the problem of traffic congestion would not be solved. 

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.

Traffic restrictions aimed at reducing congestion and pollution in downtown Athens will resume on Monday after the summer break. The "daktylios" system limits entry based on license plate numbers: Cars with even-numbered plates can enter on even days, while odd-numbered plates are allowed in on odd days.