The toll system has developed the technical ability to detect average speed. This became clear at a working meeting held today at the National Toll Administration. At it, in front of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Eng. Violeta Koritarova, Eng. Stoyan Nikolov - member of the Management Board of the “Road Infrastructure“ Agency, the head of Kiril Gaberov's office was presented with the readiness of this functionality of the system, reports the press center of the Ministry of Transport and Communications. The results of tests carried out in the period October 18 - 23, 2024 on a section of the Northern Express Tangent of Sofia were also reported. It became clear that during this period a car was detected which was traveling along the route at an average speed of 203 km per hour. In the last 24 hours, statistics show that 494 cars were driven at a speed exceeding 140 km per hour. 642 cars traveled at speeds between 101 and 120 km/h, and another 2,707 crossed the track at an average speed between 121 and 14 km/h. The system recorded that in this period, 3 buses under 12 tons were traveling on the Northern Express Tangent with an average speed between 80 and 100 km/h. At the same speed, 219 buses over 12 tons passed, and the speed of another was between 101 and 120 km/h. The average speed of 19 heavy goods vehicles over 12 tons was between 80 and 100 km/h, and another 3 – between 101 and 120 km/h.
It also became clear that the system has the ability to transmit law enforcement information from all toll cameras. To calculate the average speed, photographic material is used from the devices located at the beginning and at the end of a given road section (segment) that detect the number plates of the cars. The system takes into account whether they are light or heavy-duty and the speed limits for each type of vehicle.
Tests on other sections of the republican road network in the country and certification of the system by the Bulgarian Institute of Metrology are pending.
We must comply with the administrative procedures, receive confirmation from the Ministry of the Interior that they receive the data from the toll system and can process it, Minister Koritarova told the meeting participants. And the requirement that deadlines be set for each upcoming activity until the functionality is fully put into operation.
The changes in the Road Traffic Act, which will define the term “average speed” were submitted to the National Assembly. With their entry into force, conditions will be created to reduce traffic accidents, road safety will increase and human lives will be saved.