site.btaPM Zhelyazkov Sets One-Month Deadline to Restore Road Safety Coordination Centre's Operations

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov Wednesday said that if there were no significant reduction in road accident rates, he would propose structural changes to the toll management system, the Road Transport Administration Executive Agency, the Traffic Police, and the Road Safety State Agency. He spoke at the start of a Council of Ministers meeting. Zhelyazkov added that he had given the ministers of regional development, transport, e-government, and interior, along with the Road Safety State Agency chairperson, a one-month deadline to restore the operations of the Road Safety Coordination Centre.

Zhelyazkov said that earlier in the day he had met with the Interior Ministry, the Traffic Police, and the National Revenue Agency to discuss coordination within the current organizational structure responsible for road safety. Recent road accidents suggest that the existing organizational structure has untapped potential and the current response is “haphazard and situation-based,” the Prime Minister said.

A national meeting of the Interior Ministry in the format of regional directorates will be held on Friday to improve organization in terms of control. Zhelyazkov criticized the lack of participation from other relevant agencies, noting that only the Interior Ministry has been actively engaged so far. Despite his repeated calls for improved collaboration and data sharing, the involved institutions have yet to demonstrate the necessary level of coordination, Zhelyazkov said, stressing the need for concrete measures to address the issue.