Strange circumstances surrounding serious accidents on the Trakia Motorway
Regional Minister Ivan Shishkov expressed serious concern regarding the frequent incidents involving heavy goods vehicles. During an on-site inspection following yet another accident, he emphasized that footage from toll cameras often does not allow for the identification of drivers, which complicates the investigation.
"What is happening with the semi-trucks, the way they are driving on the roads, is very disturbing," the minister stated.
Main findings:
- Distraction behind the wheel: The minister recalled a case in which a driver was spotted with a cup and a phone in his hands just minutes before an accident.
- Atypical impacts: Trucks are hitting guardrails at an atypical angle for which existing safety systems were not designed.
- Personal responsibility: According to Shishkov, the problem is not with the road infrastructure, but with the inadequate behavior and lack of discipline of truck drivers.
Work is currently underway to create a real-time coordination system that would allow for a timely response when dangerous maneuvers are detected on the national road network.