Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

National protest demanding tougher penalties for road accidents, legislative changes and better road infrastructure

Photo: BGNES - archive

A national protest against road accidents will take place today. Roads will be blocked in a number of cities across the country where serious accidents have occurred. 

"We are at war. Every year 500-600 people die in road accidents involving motor vehicles. Most of the victims are young people," Ivan Spasov, organiser of the protest and representative of 250 Bulgarian families who have lost loved ones in road accidents, told BNR. 

The protesters want tougher penalties, legislative changes and better road infrastructure. Among their demands is that driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs be recognised as a deliberate crime. According to Spasov, under the current law, if a driver kills a person, he now remains in custody for 3 months. After that, he either absconds or gets a suspended sentence.

In 2022 alone, 531 people were killed and 8,422 injured in 6,609 serious traffic accidents on Bulgaria's roads, according to Interior Ministry statistics.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Friday has it all: clouds, fog, rain and wind

Over the next 24 hours, cloudy and foggy conditions are expected across much of the western Danube and Upper Thracian plains. Rain is likely in western Bulgaria and the Rila-Rhodope region, especially in the south-west. During the day, there may be..

published on 11/20/25 7:05 PM

Bulgaria strongly condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

Bulgaria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev took part in the regular Foreign Affairs Council, held in Brussels. The ministers discussed the EU’s commitments to Ukraine’s security and the continuation of comprehensive support for the country...

published on 11/20/25 5:47 PM

The first quaternary treatment plant was opened in Bulgaria

The first quaternary wastewater treatment plant in Bulgaria was opened today in the village of Benkovski, Maritsa Municipality. “Today we are launching a pilot project that marks the beginning of a new stage in water management in Bulgaria. A..

published on 11/20/25 5:45 PM