site.btaTraffic Cameras to Be Used to Detect Average Speed on Motorways, Later on Other Roads - Public Works Minister

The use of traffic cameras to detect average speed on first- and second-class roads will be the second stage of the reform to curb speeding, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Grozdan Karadjov told media in Parliament's lobby on Wednesday. He took part in a meeting of the parliamentary Transport and Communications Committee, at which six bills related to road traffic safety were adopted on first reading.

He specified that the average speed will be measured by traffic cameras initially only on motorways. The distance from one overhead gantry with a camera to another gantry, divided by the time it took to travel the distance, will determine the average speed of a vehicle. If that speed exceeds the speed limit, then the vehicle was speeding on some section of the road, the Minister explained.

Karadjov also said that it is very difficult to certify the cameras so that they can measure speed: each camera has to go through a calibration regime every six months.

He commented that the Interior Ministry's bill on road traffic safety generally provides for stricter discipline and enforcement of traffic rules. One of the specific proposals is to reduce the speed limit on motorways to 130 km/h.