Hundreds block Sofia-Pleven main road near Telish demanding road safety measures

Hundreds of people gathered for a protest and blocked the road between Sofia and Pleven for more than two hours at the turnoff for the village of Telish, demanding effective measures against traffic accidents. At this location, in the spring of last year, 12-year-old Siyana Popova was killed in a crash involving a truck, and just a few days ago Dr. Tsvetan Kostadinov, a physician and former mayor of Cherven Bryag, also lost his life in yet another truck-related crash.

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Protests across Bulgaria against the war on the roads

Despite the cold and rainy weather, many people including relatives and friends of victims of road accidents took part in the protest. They demand urgent and efficient measures by the state for putting an end to the  deadly war on Bulgarian roads.

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The protesting citizens also demand a full renovation of the deadly stretch of road near the village of Telish that has already claimed many lives in tragic accidents. They also call for reducing the permitted speed limit for trucks on this road to below 70 km/h.  

Citizens are also demanding stricter control by the traffic police of dangerous road sections, efficient management of the funds of the Road Safety fund, and more efficient justice-administering system

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Neli Dakova, mayor of the village of Telish, said: “From here on, we are starting. We will not tolerate this road any longer - it has already turned into a graveyard. No one deserves such a senseless death because of the irresponsibility of all institutions.

Maria Ivanova from Selanovtsi said: “This is my first time at a protest, and I won’t stop. I have been waiting for justice for my brother for eight months - for the crash. They entered his lane on a straight stretch of road.”

Tsvetan Valov from Cherven Bryag said: “On January 8, on the same road, on an unsanded surface, my SUV skidded and veered into oncoming traffic. I have a broken arm. I travel this road often - it has never been sanded. This is real war.”

Nikolay Popov, the father of 12-year-old Siyana, who was killed in a crash at this location, said: “It is simply necessary for politicians to wake up as well, because they are sleeping a very deep sleep.”

Protests against war on the roads after death of a child in serious traffic accident

Today in Cherven Bryag is a day of mourning in memory of Dr. Tsvetan Kostadinov, who was killed earlier this week in a traffic accident on this stretch of road and was a former mayor of the town.

Report: Latinka Svetozarova, BNR correspondent in Pleven
Edited by R. Petkova