Young drivers to stay home at night
Parliament adopted on first reading amendment to the Traffic Act stipulating that drivers with less than one year of experience behind the wheel and who are younger than 25 will not be allowed to drive after dark.
Other amendments adopted on April 3 2009 provide for a ban on young drivers to drive motor vehicles with an engine capacity of more than 1.6 litres.
Young drivers will also not be allowed to drive with a minor as a passenger unless accompanied by someone else. The amendments ban young drivers from drinking liquor before driving - meaning that they should have a blood-alcohol level of zero.
MPs also increased traffic fines. For driving more than five km/h over the limit, the fine was raised to 50 leva.
Fines issued on the basis of video surveillance cameras will not be subject to appeal, MPs decided. The change was made because of complaints by Traffic Police who said that drivers preferred to appeal against the fines instead of paying them, which delayed implementation.
The amendments are subject to appeal on second reading.
Traffic offences have become a serious issue for Bulgaria in the past 10 years, with thousands of people killed and injured on the roads every year. On April 4 2009 alone, Traffic Police reported 23 car accidents with 29 injured people, of whom two were in critical condition.
Other amendments adopted on April 3 2009 provide for a ban on young drivers to drive motor vehicles with an engine capacity of more than 1.6 litres.
Young drivers will also not be allowed to drive with a minor as a passenger unless accompanied by someone else. The amendments ban young drivers from drinking liquor before driving - meaning that they should have a blood-alcohol level of zero.
MPs also increased traffic fines. For driving more than five km/h over the limit, the fine was raised to 50 leva.
Fines issued on the basis of video surveillance cameras will not be subject to appeal, MPs decided. The change was made because of complaints by Traffic Police who said that drivers preferred to appeal against the fines instead of paying them, which delayed implementation.
The amendments are subject to appeal on second reading.
Traffic offences have become a serious issue for Bulgaria in the past 10 years, with thousands of people killed and injured on the roads every year. On April 4 2009 alone, Traffic Police reported 23 car accidents with 29 injured people, of whom two were in critical condition.