Bulgarian drivers face scrutiny over mobile phone use and distracted driving

Reports from Bulgaria highlight growing concerns regarding distracted driving and mobile phone usage among motorists. In Plovdiv, a passenger shared video evidence alleging that a public transport driver was watching videos on a mobile phone and smoking while operating a bus on line 60 during the early morning hours.

In Blagoevgrad, a week-long police operation titled ‘Focus on the Road’ revealed a trend of drivers, particularly younger motorists, using mobile devices for chatting and scrolling through social media rather than just making calls. During the operation, authorities identified 18 drivers using mobile devices and 90 individuals failing to wear seatbelts. Police noted that social media usage is increasingly difficult to detect as drivers attempt to hide the behavior to avoid fines and penalty points.