After living in Bulgaria for 17 years, we have seen Bulgarian drivers do just about everything. Some believable and some not. For instance, just today, before noon, I saw a trolley and a car run red lights at different intersections here in Stara Zagora.

Bulgaria is full of terrible drivers. Thus the high accident rate.
However, much more lies behind such a high accident rate in this nation.

1) Road signs are poorly thought out or missing.  This is true of Bulgaria as a whole.  Poor placing of traffic lights, along with missing or non-working stop lights are epidemic.  Not only is this true, but we have NEVER seen KAT directing traffic at an intersection where the stop lights are not working. So, what are they doing besides hiding in the bushes beside roads giving ticket to speeders?
Even countries such as Kosovo and Macedonia have far better road signs than Bulgaria.

2) A great disrespect for the law.  Bulgarians tend to look at all laws, more specifically, traffic laws, as "recommendations."

3) Bad driver training & traffic laws.  In California, people may apply for their driver’s licence at the age of 16.  Yet, there are FAR fewer accidents and violations of traffic laws by young drivers than all Bulgarian drivers.
Why? First, a person from age 16 to 20 may NOT drive after dark.  Then they also may NOT drive with anyone but a member of their family that is over 21 years old.  Most traffic accidents involving young drivers have others in the car and involve driving after dark and under the influence of alcohol.  Remove these items and the accident rate dramatically drops.

4) Increased parking and better vision at intersections is necessary.  How many times has it been simply impossible for me to see around a dangerous corner because a truck or van is parked there totally blocking vision?  Why are there business signs at corners that block the vision of drivers?  And, naturally, there are entire lanes of traffic blocked off, such as turning lanes, due to no or extremely limited parking in Bulgarian cities.
It is the responsibility of EVERY city in Bulgaria to provide safe and plentiful parking for their drivers.

5) Treating young drivers as young drivers is necessary.  Let’s face it. They are children.  For instance, behind our block virtually every day some young driver drives like a maniac in the parking lot.  Nothing is ever done about it.
What SHOULD be done is this.  If you are a driver between the ages of 16-20 and violate the law, you are given a ticket for the first violation.  The second violation, your driver’s licence is suspended until you are the age of 21.

People that act like children when driving need to be treated like children.
Drivers often forget that a car in the hands of a bad driver is a deadly weapon.  
Until some of the above measures are adopted, there will simply be no change in the driving habits of young Bulgarian drivers.  In fact, they will get worse.
However, if even one life is saved, it will be worth it.


Keith W. Brown
Stara Zagora