Emotional Simulations and Practical Road Safety Lessons in Burgas

BURGAS – On August 23 and 24, the port area of the Maritime Station in Burgas will be the stage for the sixth edition of Teen Boom Fest. This year, the event goes beyond the traditional scope of youth entertainment to present an innovative and impactful initiative focused on road safety. Under the motto "Drive with heart and mind – because you aren't alone on the road", the festival will feature a 20-meter "Road Safety Zone", designed to give young people a real sense of the dangers on the road and teach them how to react appropriately.

The goal of the organizers is to turn theory into practice. Instead of simple lectures, participants will experience a series of simulations that will dramatically and personally show them the risks associated with irresponsible behavior on the road. One of the most impactful attractions will be the car crash simulation. In a full-sized car, young people will be able to feel a collision in a controlled and completely safe environment, under the supervision of qualified specialists. This simulation aims to leave a deep and lasting impression that goes beyond any warning heard in a classroom.

Additional simulators will demonstrate what happens to passengers in a head-on collision when they ignore the use of a seatbelt – a fact often underestimated by young people. Another unique simulation will test visitors' ability to make quick and adequate decisions in a critical situation, where every second can be decisive for someone's life.

Special attention will be paid to the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol. With the help of special "Alcohol Goggles" with a concentration of 0.8 to 1.5 promille, young people and parents will be able to experience for themselves the disorientation, delayed reactions, distorted vision, and reduced alertness. These goggles will provide a practical lesson that clearly shows how dangerous even minimal amounts of alcohol can be for a person's ability to operate a vehicle.

According to the organizers, the initiative aims to give young drivers and passengers a chance not just to hear about the risks, but to feel them personally, to develop responsibility and self-control. The practical lessons this zone will offer are invaluable, as, as stated in the source text, "no textbook and no warning can compare to a personal experience".

Behind the implementation of the specialized zone are a number of partners, including the Commission for Combating Anti-Social Behavior of Minors and the Municipal Council on Narcotic Substances at the Municipality of Burgas. A particularly emotional highlight of this year's Teen Boom Fest is the partnership with the "Ani and Yavor: The Key is Love" Foundation, established in memory of two young people, Ani and Yavor, whose lives were tragically cut short on May 8, 2023, while crossing a pedestrian crosswalk. Their story adds additional weight and meaning to the campaign, turning it into a memorial event that reminds of the cost of carelessness.

Teen Boom Fest’25 is organized by the Municipality of Burgas, in partnership with Prime Dynamics Ltd, Party Agency "Krigeya" and others. The event, which has established itself as a place for entertainment, is also a platform this year where young people show that they can not only have fun but also get involved in causes and change the world around them.