Average Speed Control: New Rules for 22 Risky Sections

The National Toll Administration has officially announced the launch of a new, large-scale campaign for speed control on Bulgarian roads. As of September 6, the rules for measuring average speed will come into force, and they will be applied in 22 key road sections. The new system is aimed at reducing accidents and improving traffic safety, and it will cover all highways and main routes known for a high concentration of road traffic accidents.

The new measures were presented at a briefing at the Council of Ministers by the director of the National Toll Administration, Oleg Asenov. According to him, the introduction of average speed control is part of a broader package of regulations laid out in the Road Traffic Act, the purpose of which is to create stricter and more effective road discipline.

Phased implementation and scope of the system

Oleg Asenov specified that the list of road sections that will be covered by the new measures is already available to the public. Detailed information on all sections that have passed the initial inspection and are ready for phased inclusion in the system has been published on the administration's official website. As of today, a total of 14 sections are already functioning in the system, with two more having passed the necessary tests.

A map showing the exact locations of all sections is also available on the Toll Administration's website, which makes it easier for drivers to plan their trips. According to Asenov, by the end of the current year, the average speed control system will be expanded to cover more than 1,200 kilometers of the country's road network.

Overload control is being introduced on busy routes

In addition to speed control, the Toll Administration is also preparing to introduce a new system for measuring the overloading of freight vehicles. This control is expected to start around October 15 with an initial 20 control points located on the busiest road arteries. These points were strategically selected based on detailed statistics for the most intensive traffic on highways, first-class, and second-class roads.

Director Asenov emphasized that the system is dynamic and allows for its scope to be gradually expanded. The maximum capacity of the system is 100 control points for weighing in motion. He specified that before being put into operation, all points must go through a calibration process.

In order to inform businesses and carriers, the Toll Administration is planning a special campaign that will clarify how the weighing and electronic enforcement processes will proceed. Information on the scales that are currently calibrated is available in the "Questions and Answers" section of the administration's website.

In addition to these measures, the head of the Toll Administration noted that the road fees regulation has already been published for public discussion, which gives interested parties the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new rules and express their opinion.