Road traffic safety

The Bulgarian government has proposed a significant change to the country's road traffic regulations, aiming to reduce the maximum speed limit on highways from 140 km/h to 130 km/h. Additionally, the amendment bill seeks to lower the speed limit on so-called public roads from 120 km/h to 110 km/h, according to the "Sega" newspaper.

In a sweeping move aimed at curbing reckless driving and enhancing road safety, Greece has implemented stringent measures against speeding motorists. Since March, a new law has been enforced, authorizing the impoundment of vehicles traveling at dangerously high speeds.

Bulgaria has emerged as the most perilous country for driving in the European Union, with the highest death rate from road traffic accidents, according to preliminary data released by the European Commission for 2023.

Bulgaria's Road Safety Challenges:

A recent study conducted by Vignetteswitzerland.com has shed light on the state of road safety in Europe, revealing concerning trends for Bulgaria. According to the study, Bulgaria ranks third among the most dangerous countries to drive in, with Romania taking the top spot and Serbia following closely behind.

Sofia's Mayor, Vasil Terziev, has announced plans to enhance road safety in the capital by installing stationary speed control cameras at critical locations. Terziev shared the news on his Facebook profile, detailing the specific areas where the cameras will be deployed.

Recent analysis by the Institute for Road Safety reveals a decline in road traffic fatalities in Bulgaria over the past three years, with 521 reported deaths in 2023 compared to 531 in 2022 and 561 in 2021. While this trend suggests a decrease in fatalities, a concerning surge in serious injuries raises alarm, escalating from 7,609 in 2021 to 9,090 in 2023.

The number of people killed in traffic accidents in Greece is alarmingly high compared to other EU countries. Although the absolute number of fatalities remains lower than pre-pandemic levels (2019), it increased slightly over the last three years (2020-22).

Only on Sunday, September 3, as many as five road passengers were killed, Ministry of Internal Affairs announced.
In a collision between a "Fiat Punto" vehicle, which was moving in the opposite direction, and a "Hyundai" on the Milo Veliki highway in the territory of Surin, one person was killed, while one person was seriously and one person slightly injured.

The Regional Authority of Attica is implementing an important intervention to ensure the smooth circulation of vehicles and prevent traffic accidents at the points of reduced road safety on the Athens-Sounio coastal avenue.

The installation of reflective rubber wings aim to limit the entry of vehicles into the oncoming traffic, greatly reducing the rate of traffic accidents.

The number of fatal road traffic injuries in Greece rose again in 2022, based on the annual report of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) published earlier in June.

The 7th Annual Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) showed that 635 people died in Greece in 2022 compared to 624 in 2021. Most of the victims were pedestrians, cyclists, users of skates and mopeds.