The large-scale changes in the Road Traffic Act, about which the public has not been informed, will come into force in just 4 days. The Institute for Road Safety (IBTS) warns about this in an open letter to the government and the media.
Up until now, valuable time has been lost in which the competent institutions could have responsibly communicated with the public and explained the significant changes concerning the behavior of all road users. Instead, we are witnessing an information silence that gives rise to misunderstanding, speculation and even dangerous interpretations.
Only some of the changes include:
• 12 completely new articles in the law;
• Amendments or additions to over 60 existing articles, many of which affect several paragraphs, points and letters, which emphasizes the deep revision of the regulatory framework;
• In § 6 of the Additional Provisions, 12 new legal definitions (items 76 to 87) have been introduced, concerning key concepts.
New rules are being created for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers of IEPS, there are also significant changes for other road users.
After the adoption of the amendments, contradictory and confusing interpretations appeared in the public space, to which the responsible institution — DABDP — did not respond. This silence creates a risk that the changes will not be understood, accepted or implemented correctly, which compromises their very effectiveness.
European practice clearly shows that with significantly more limited changes to the Road Traffic Act, targeted, timely and effective information campaigns are organized by specialized state bodies. In Bulgaria, such a campaign is completely absent so far.
In 2024, the agency spent nearly 500,000 leva on media coverage without any need. Now it is silent!!!
Over 200,000 leva were given to a sociological agency to research what they are called upon to do according to the structural regulations and the road law. Now it is silent!!!
The correct implementation of the law requires not only its adoption, but also clarity, understanding and awareness.