Who is State Agency Road Safety (SARS), and what is your role as a Charter Ambassador?
The State Agency for Road Safety is a government body within the Republic of Bulgaria, responsible for coordinating and pursuing an active national road safety policy, based on prevention and systematic analysis, with the aim of reducing the consequences of road accidents.
As Charter Ambassador since June 2024, our role focuses on information and knowledge-sharing activities, promoting dialogue on progress towards Vision Zero, and supporting participation in partnership projects at European level.
Why did you decide to join the European Road Safety Charter?
We joined the Charter to demonstrate a proactive approach to road safety at both national and European level. The Charter helps us broaden our network, strengthen cooperation with a growing community of road safety experts. As the coordinating institution for road safety in Bulgaria and part of the government, we are well placed to be actively involved in the Charter and to interact with other National Relays and members.
What are your main focus areas and current projects?
Road crash injuries and fatalities remain a major public concern in Bulgaria, which recorded the highest road mortality rate in the European Union in 2023. Progress towards the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50 percent by 2030 remains limited. We also observe challenges related to coordination between institutions and the sharing of data for proactive road safety planning and performance management.
Key European projects in which we are involved include Baseline, Trendline, EGRIS, and the TSI programme of the European Commission.
Who do you collaborate with?
We support and encourage action on road safety among European associations, schools, universities, individuals, local authorities, and companies of all sizes.
As a state administration agency, we mainly collaborate with equivalent bodies in other Member States and with the European Commission.
What advice would you give to organisations working on road safety?
Adopt a proactive approach to road safety and consider its links with other policy areas such as healthcare, education, mobility, and enforcement.