The changes to the Road Traffic Act were the leading topic in parliament today. The amendments entered the chamber for the final second vote, with the debates and voting lasting more than several hours. The new texts provide for higher fines and new means of road control, Nova TV reports.
One of the key proposals provides that if the speed limit is exceeded by more than 40 km/h outside a built-up area, in addition to the fine of 600 leva, the driver's license will be revoked for a period of 2 months. In the event of a repeated violation, the fine will double, and the deprivation of the right to drive will be 3 months.
Among the other changes is an increase in the fine for driving without documents - from the previous 10 to 30 leva. Violations such as running a red light or failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing will now cost 150 leva.
The legislators hope that these measures will limit road injuries and introduce more effective road control. The final vote on the proposals in the plenary hall is coming up.
„We hope that with this law we will make a big step towards a sustainable policy for reducing road injuries“, said Andrey Runchev from GERB-SDF.
„This law was focused on prevention and control. We all know that when we see a camera, we reduce, but then we drive again. Now the cameras of the toll system and those of the municipalities are also included in this fight“, pointed out Kiril Dobrev.
So, more cameras will now monitor compliance with the rules, and the opposition also insisted on more digitalization.
„In addition to all the right changes, it is also important to remove stickers from the windshield. It is high time this happened – they have no added value in the digital world“, emphasized Bozhidar Bozanov from PP–DB. However, this was not accepted by the deputies.
„Vazrazhdane“ attacked the idea of measuring average speed.
„Every driver knows that if all the restrictions according to our signs are observed, the traffic stops. Yesterday I did an experiment – I drove, observing all the restrictions, from Varna to Sofia: 8 hours and 12 minutes“, said the party leader Kostadin Kostadinov.
Also, the proposal to increase the maximum speed on the motorway to 130 km/h is dropped and the current 140 km/h is retained, while on the expressway it remains 120 km/h.
Unbranded cars with uniformed police officers are also appearing on the roads, who will also have the right to fine and stop drivers if a violation is detected.
The parliament session ended due to a lack of quorum. After several breaks and quorum checks, there were 112 deputies in the hall, so the voting on the amendments to the Road Traffic Act continues on Thursday.
After the toll cameras began monitoring traffic in the emergency lane, the state reported the first results.
“The first fine is already there – he was handed a certificate today. All the cameras of the toll system are connected to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and from now on all violators will be fined“, said Interior Minister Daniel Mitov.