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BGN 500 will be the fine if an underage driver’s companion turns out to be drunk. This is recorded in draft amendments to the Road Traffic Act, which formulate in detail the newly introduced right of 17-year-olds to drive a car. The changes have yet to be discussed by the deputies.
Age
The changes, motivated by the opportunity to gain more driving experience under the supervision of a responsible adult, lower the age for driving a passenger car to 17. The proposal aims to build habits for safe driving of a motor vehicle under the supervision of an experienced driver, it is written in the reasons of the proponent – the Council of Ministers. In connection with this, key requirements are introduced that the attendant must meet. This can only be a person over the age of 25 who has held a valid driver’s license for a minimum of 5 years.
Obligations
While accompanying the minor driver, this person must not have used drugs or have a blood alcohol concentration above 0.5 per mille. It is also mandatory that the driver’s license has not been revoked for traffic violations in the last two years. During the journey, the companion must also sit on the seat next to the driver.
Another rule prohibits from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. other persons to ride in the car except for the companion. Violation of any of the above rules will result in the escort being fined BGN 500. The changes ensure that irresponsible adults will not be tempted to use young guides to take them to drinking establishments at night. The ban on other persons in the car at night is also in the direction of preventing the distraction of the young driver and avoiding party gatherings in the car.
Validity
According to the changes, the license of 17-year-olds is issued for one year. After reaching the age of 18 and if he has not had any violations, the driver is issued a regular license. If the driver is caught driving unaccompanied during the period until he reaches the age of majority or commits an offense for which the license is revoked, he loses the acquired legal capacity in full.
Speed
As “Telegraph” already wrote, the changes also propose lowering the speed limit for cars on highways from 140 to 130 km/h. This change is motivated by the fact that, with the exception of Germany, no other advanced country with significantly fewer accident victims than ours has such a high speed limit on such a class of road.
With the changes in the law, the violation of exceeding the average speed in a certain section of the road is also introduced. This legally opens the door for toll cameras to now be used to detect average speeds and fine offenders.
Emergency
A key change is needed to address emergency lanes on highways, which fill up every summer with hurried drivers, especially during rush hour or traffic jams due to an accident. This makes it difficult for emergency crews to move, and road safety organizations have been calling for changes for years.
Until now, there was a loophole in the law that allowed driving in the emergency lane in the event of a car breakdown or a health problem for the driver or passengers. Due to the loophole, fines were not actually imposed. A complete ban on driving in the emergency lane is now being introduced, and it will now only be used for stopping in the event of a breakdown or health problem.
The pedestrian is king in shared areas
Zones for shared use of the traffic lane will be able to be designated in populated areas, according to changes in the law. These will be able to be created, for example, in the inner streets of the neighborhoods. According to them, these are specially arranged sections of the street network, which are designated as such at their entrances and exits with road signs and/or markings and in which special traffic rules apply.
In these areas, pedestrians will be able to use the road along its entire width. At the same time, cars in these zones will be able to move at a speed no higher than 20 km/h.
Cyclists and scooters will descend on the zebra
Another change that road safety experts have been pushing for for years comes with changes to the law. Cyclists and scooter riders will have to dismount and cross pedestrian paths on foot, bringing their vehicle to them. The changes also impose a ban on cyclists using a mobile phone without hands-free.
Until now, such a restriction existed only for scooter drivers. In the law, the texts have also now been expanded to cover not only a mobile phone, but also any other mobile communication device or other means that distracts the driver’s attention, unless it is used without the involvement of the hands.
Deyan Dyankov
