site.btaInterior Minister Orders Comprehensive Inspection of Dangerous Road Sections

Interior Minister Daniel Mitov has ordered a comprehensive inspection of the condition of dangerous sections of the road network throughout the country, the Interior Ministry said in a press release Saturday. The news comes after recent protests over road safety issues following yet another fatal traffic accident that took the life of a 12-year-old girl.

The competent National Police structures and the regional directorates of the Ministry of Interior will check whether the dangerous sections, identified through the interactive map of the Communications and Information Systems Directorate, are safe for traffic and secured in accordance with the police instructions issued, as well as whether instructions have been issued for them.

Next week, Minister Mitov will present a report to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov with proposals for complex measures aimed at seriously improving road safety, as is also written in the Government's priorities programme, the press release reads. 

"It is high time to put an end to the war on the road, which is killing our children and loved ones, becoming a risk to Bulgaria's national security. Within the framework of my legal powers, as Minister of Interior, I will spare no effort and no time to ensure that we no longer allow the future of our nation to perish on Bulgarian roads," Minister Mitov is quoted as saying. Mitov also said he will not accept the usual excuses that new changes are needed in road safety legislation. Proposals have been made and will be made, but until then the Interior Ministry will not stand idly by and just register the next victims and injured on the road, Mitov noted.

On the orders of the acting Interior Ministry Secretary General, Commissioner Miroslav Rashkov, over the weekend unmarked vehicles with civilian officers from Criminal Police will monitor violations of safe driving rules. They are tasked with capturing and reporting aggressive car and truck drivers who are a risk to other road users. In coordination with the uniformed officers, these drivers with their respective vehicles will be removed from the road traffic for the imposition of penalties, the Ministry of Interior said.