Institute for Road Safety criticizes Bulgarian truck lane ban bill

The Institute for Road Safety (IPB) has criticized a proposed bill by the Progressive Bulgaria party, labeling the ban on trucks over 12 tons using the left lane on highways as a “smoke screen” for hidden economic interests.

According to the IPB, the focus on heavy vehicle restrictions is intended to divert public attention from 18 other paragraphs in the bill. These provisions allegedly create lucrative financial opportunities in sectors such as Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) software, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, new camera installations, data management, cybersecurity, and metrological control.

The Institute noted that the bill was introduced by parliamentary representatives rather than the Council of Ministers, a move they claim is designed to bypass mandatory public discussions, impact assessments, and inter-institutional coordination. Furthermore, the IPB questioned the true authorship of the text, suggesting it may stem from the Ministry of Interior. They also highlighted that current municipal camera systems already return 50% of fine revenues to local budgets, potentially turning road control into a profit-driven business rather than a safety measure.