Dangerous crash barriers on Bulgarian highways
The “Vazrazhdane” party has raised a serious question regarding road safety in Bulgaria following a series of severe accidents on the Trakia and Struma highways. According to the leader of the party, Kostadin Kostadinov, the problem is systemic and dates back to the initial construction and subsequent repairs of the roads.
“The problem with the crash barriers is very serious because it was embedded from the very beginning when the highways were built,” Kostadinov stated from the parliamentary podium.
MP Petar Petrov emphasized that sections in the Burgas, Yambol, and Sliven regions are secured with crash barriers intended only for passenger cars, but not for trucks. In addition to the discrepancy in the class of protective equipment, “Vazrazhdane” also warned about poor maintenance:
- Delayed replacement of damaged sections (between 6 and 12 months after an incident).
- Presence of broken crash barriers that remain unrepaired for years.
- Lack of preventive measures against road casualties.
The party categorically stated that state policy is focused primarily on the collection of fines rather than on actual road safety. “Vazrazhdane” is preparing proposals for legislative changes to the budget and the Road Traffic Act, with the aim of shifting to preventive actions instead of reacting only after fatal traffic accidents.