"A1 - Bulgaria" has introduced a new, innovative functionality that allows drivers to monitor their average speed in real time. The new service is integrated directly into the popular mobile application "My A1" and aims to improve road safety and help drivers avoid serious fines for speeding, the telecommunications operator announced.
Technology for Safety
The functionality, called "My Average Speed", works as an intelligent assistant on the road. It automatically recognizes the beginning and end of controlled road sections where sectional speed control is applied. In real time, the application provides the driver with valuable information, such as:
- current and average speed of travel;
- remaining distance and time to the end of the controlled section;
- as well as the recommended speed needed to comply with legal limits.
According to the company, this system was developed to give drivers peace of mind and reduce the risk of incidents.
Violations are increasing at an alarming rate
The introduction of the new feature by "A1 - Bulgaria" coincides with the entry into force of new changes to the Road Traffic Act. As of September 7, measuring average speed on certain road sections has become an official practice. The results from the first hours of the new rules' application are more than concerning.
According to data from the Ministry of Interior, in just the first 12 hours after the law came into force, until 12:00 PM on September 7, more than 1,500 violations were found. This number is particularly worrying, considering that in just the first seven hours, 582 violators were detected. Of these, 518 were driving passenger cars, and 64 were driving cargo vehicles weighing over 12 tons.
The pursuit of high speeds continues to be a serious problem on Bulgarian roads. Among the detected violators, the most egregious cases are those of extreme speeding. The Ministry of Interior announced a passenger car traveling at 179 km/h during the night on the Northern Speed Tangent. Even more alarming is the case on a highway, where another vehicle was detected flying at 222 km/h. Significant overspeeding was even registered among heavy trucks, with the highest detected speed being 122 km/h, also found on a highway. This data shows that even under the threat of new, stricter penalties, a large number of drivers continue to disregard the limits, putting themselves and all other road users at risk.