Road deaths soar, fines rise—govt pockets the cash

Bulgaria recorded 370 traffic fatalities during the first 10 months of 2025, matching the death toll from the corresponding period last year, according to findings released by the Institute for Road Safety. The organization noted that fatalities actually dropped by 14 during the period before major traffic law amendments took effect in early September.

Deaths climbed 15.2 percent during September and October despite government initiatives that included average speed monitoring systems, safety improvements at 36 high-risk locations, and 43 emergency interventions. Authorities collected more than 200 million leva in traffic penalties since January and documented over 1 million speeding violations. The institute warned the government will miss its stated target of cutting road deaths by 20 percent and may instead see annual increases not witnessed since 2021.

The safety organization identified multiple systemic failures and directed criticism at the prime minister for inadequate risk management. Electronic citations for average speed violations remain undelivered due to processing difficulties at the Interior Ministry. The institute also cited insufficient coordination, misallocated agency resources, and chaotic infrastructure spending that ignores safety priorities.