"For us, the life and health of children, as well as all road users, are a top priority. That is why control is stepped up throughout the year, not just around the first day of school," Inspector Ivo Bikov stated firmly. With this in mind, the Ministry of Interior is taking large-scale measures, including an organized increased police presence around all kindergartens and schools across the country starting September 15. The goal is to ensure the safety of students, their secure travel, and the maintenance of public order.

Even before the start of the school year, actions began to secure road infrastructure in the areas surrounding educational institutions. Commissioner Sergey Aleksov, Deputy Head of the Traffic Police at the General Directorate of National Police, reported that since the beginning of the year, over 8,000 instructions and warning letters have been sent to the authorities responsible for road maintenance. In the last month alone, as part of the campaign "Children are heading to school – let's keep them safe on the road," more than 400 reports were filed, focusing on:

  • Restoring crosswalks and road markings;
  • Installing or repairing road signs;
  • Repairing safety railings around kindergartens and schools.

Officers from the Traffic Police and Security Police will strictly monitor compliance with the Road Traffic Act. A special emphasis will be placed on violations such as illegal stopping and parking near crosswalks, failure to yield to pedestrians, and jaywalking. The police appealed to drivers to be extremely cautious near schools, to reduce speed when approaching crosswalks, and to always be prepared to stop. Parents are urged to set a good example, while children must behave responsibly: cross only at designated areas, look carefully before crossing, avoid stepping suddenly onto the road, and refrain from using mobile phones and headphones.

Road control will be intensive throughout the entire period surrounding the start of the school year. As part of the initiatives of the European Roads Policing Network (ROADPOL), a "Day Without Road Fatalities" will be held on September 17. Following this, a themed safety week will take place from September 17 to 21, during which inspections will be conducted around playgrounds, kindergartens, and schools.

However, safety does not end on the road. In parallel with these actions, steps have been taken to ensure peace and security within the buildings themselves. "In connection with the opening of the school year, an organization has been established across the country to conduct security inspections at kindergartens and schools. The focus is on security and access control," emphasized Inspector Irina Rogeva from the Security Police at the General Directorate of National Police. To synchronize these measures, meetings have been held with mayors, representatives of regional education departments, and managers of private security firms.

Chief Inspector Krasimira Stoyadinova from the Security Police department at the Sofia Directorate of Interior added that the presence of law enforcement will be constant: "Throughout the school year, we will be present during the so-called peak hours—in the morning when children arrive, in the evening when they return home, and between shifts." In addition to physical security, the Ministry of Interior will continue to implement preventive programs aimed at combating drug distribution and aggressive behavior among students.