Guardrails, infrastructure and driving culture – weaknesses in road safety

June 29 is the National Road Safety Day – a day that should unite the entire society in a common cause – the protection of human life and health when we are on the road. Road safety is one of the most painful public topics in Bulgaria – repeated accidents, lost lives and unsatisfactory answers to important questions about the condition of the road infrastructure, the effectiveness of state control and the responsibility of all road users. The general statistics are alarming – according to data from the Ministry of Interior, from the beginning of 2026 to June 28, over 2,840 serious road accidents were registered in the country, in which 218 people died. This is 35 more victims compared to the same period last year - an indicator that suggests that despite the measures taken, the trend remains unfavourable and the feeling of war on the roads is increasingly palpable.

In the spring of 2025, the death of 12-year-old Siyana in an accident near the village of Telish unleashed a wave of protests in Sofia and dozens of cities in the country, organized by relatives of victims, civic organizations and initiative committees. Now, at the end of June 2026, we have a black déjà vu - two boys died in a head-on collision on a highway with a truck that entered the opposite lane, and two teenagers lost their lives near Mezdra after being hit by a car with a young driver behind the wheel. Some time ago a fast moving car crashed into a public transport bus in Sofia, leaving four dead and 16 injured. And once again, citizens protested with demands for urgent safety of dangerous road sections, better maintenance of the republican road network, more effective speed control, and stricter sanctions against violators.

At this backdrop, experts say that reducing road accidents requires consistent investments in infrastructure, modern safety systems, quality maintenance of the road network and more effective control. The main problems include compromised guardrails and the numerous potholes on the road surface, which are one of the most serious prerequisites for road accidents.

More responsible drivers’ behaviour is also necessary, because very often serious accidents are caused by drivers with insufficient experience driving powerful vehicles.

A common practice among young drivers is to use their phones while driving, which leads to distraction from what is happening around them on the road, driving instructor Boyan Blazhev, who has been sharing his experience behind the wheel for many years, tells Radio Bulgaria:

"Phones should not be used because distraction at higher speeds is fatal. At high speeds, the car loses stability and even turning the steering wheel slightly to the left or right can be fatal."

The possibility of having an age limit for young drivers driving powerful cars has been discussed more than once.
"I'm not really sure if such a restriction is necessary, as one can drive a powerful car slowly," Blazhev says. "Remember - at high speed you have no time! The lower the speed, the longer the reaction time, and at high speed - it decreases by 1/3."

Summer is the season for motorcyclists on Bulgarian roads, but they should also follow the low speed rule, the instructor says.

"I also lead motorcycle driving courses. I see them insisting on going even when the traffic light is yellow. It shouldn't be like that and they should wait 2-3 seconds after the yellow light, because the motorcycle is fast and when it starts at a yellow light, if another participant has entered or is leaving the intersection, there is no chance to react and avoid a crash."

Is a change needed in the training of future drivers in order to reduce the number of accidents and victims on the road?

"I think the preparation is good, but maybe the driving hours could be increased. However, the drivers' discipline is low. Everyone just gets in the car and hits the gas. Cars have become very powerful and fast. Awareness and lower speed are needed, and we see that everyone is speeding and everyone is in a hurry."

According to him, the infrastructure in our country is in poor condition. Markings are missing, road signs are often outdated and wrong. Therefore, the instructor gave advice to travellers during the summer season - to observe the speed limits and take a break every hour or hour and a half.