Is there a problem for Bulgarians if they drive in Greece only with small coupons? Why is there a boom in severe accidents and what are the main reasons for them? The Standard newspaper sought answers from Boyko Ranovski, head of the Traffic Police Sector in the General Directorate of the National Police.
- Mr. Ranovski, there has been hysteria over the fines that threaten abroad, and in particular in Greece, Bulgarian drivers for lack of the so-called large car ticket. What is the truth?
- So far, despite all the information in the media, no one has shown a slip that he was fined for the lack of the first part of the registration card - let's see which article, which law. The information came to us from the Bulgarian Leasing Association. They informed 3 ministries that carriers were complaining about sanctions in Greece. These are mainly trucks.
Even if insurers provide the large coupon to the lessee, they are unlikely to give it to drivers. Because if they steal the car and the ticket is in it, the insurers pay a very small part of the compensation. They will be paid only a percentage of the helmet, because with a coupon in the car it becomes much easier to sell the stolen car.
- Is it true that the European directive on the big coupon was adopted in 2011, but so far no checks have been made?
- No, I think that the directive dates back to 1999, it concerns the issuance of vehicle registration in EU countries. We have been following it since 2007, the sample of our coupon is from 2003. So far we have not had any problems. I suspect that this is a directive on roadside checks, which has been in force since last year. It regulates what checks to make and what to emphasize - the total weight of the vehicle, the axle load and more.
When you check it on the overload road, there should be something to compare the data on the net weight of the truck. And that's why they need the big coupon where this data is stored. Probably that's where the changes start, according to which they should show the first part of the coupon.
But these are exclusively for trucks, cars should not be affected by these requirements at all. There is an official note in the Foreign Ministry from the Greek side that according to the answer, the requirement does not concern cars.
- How can this problem be solved, even if it is only for trucks?
- Talks have already been held with the Greek authorities, we have the assurance that if we add additional data to the second part of the coupon, the big coupon will not be required. We have been preparing these changes for more than a month, because the term of the public procurement for the delivery of the forms is expiring.
There is only one requirement that we have not complied with so far - to write on the coupon "registration certificate" in all languages in the European Union. Due to the problem with the Greeks, we will satisfy this request as well - to enter all the data necessary for road control in the small coupon.
- The project is to fold the new small coupon, right? When will the replacement start?
- It will be the same format, but will fold twice. The current contract for delivery of forms is until October, until then an order must be placed, after concluding the contract there is a month for technological delivery.
I see the process starting at the beginning of January at the earliest. But again, there will be no campaign replacement - anyone who comes for a service will receive the new coupons.
- You say that Bulgarian license plates come from abroad with boxes because of penalties for our drivers? What are they fined for most often in Greece?
- Most of the signs removed for violations are from Austria and Greece. In Austria, we are most often fined for a technical malfunction - oil leak, poor appearance, broken windshield. In Greece, on the other hand, the most common violations are the lack of civil liability.
- You say that the main problem is high speeds. What else can be done?
- We want to quickly introduce the change in the law and to be able to fine with electronic slips. We will saturate the vulnerable road sections again in the summer season with the police. But no one can say where the catastrophe will take place. The fact is that this year there is another increase in road deaths and the reason is mainly high speed and a sense of impunity.
Even before the Supreme Administrative Court's decision to cancel mobile cameras came out, people were reassured that they would no longer be photographed and fined. Recent accidents, however, show that it is not the highways that are most vulnerable, but the lower categories of roads.
You need a little more respect for your life and that of other road users.
- If you have to call the drivers, what will it be?
- In the summer months, when everyone goes to travel, I will call for them to be more reasonable, more patient. In many places on the main roads there are repair works, to be careful and not to go ahead risky and without visibility. High speed and risky overtaking are the main "killers" on the road.
- Did the tablets in the hands of the katadzhii play any role?
- Yes, they were initially tested on the territory of Plovdiv and Pleven. With them, each boss can see where their subordinates are and what they are doing. The movement of the posts and their rapid dislocation can be controlled. After small adjustments in the software will be imposed throughout the country, but I can not commit to a deadline.
Source: Insurance.bg