Bulgaria Expands Speed Monitoring with Traffic Cameras: A New Era of Traffic Safety
Bulgaria marked a small measure of progress in road-safety improvements in 2024 when data showed the number of fatalities fell by about 9% compared to 2023. Despite this progress, the country still had a high highway fatality rate, about 74 deaths per million inhabitants, ranking second highest in the EU after Romania, according to the European Commission.
In a significant development for road safety, Bulgaria is adopting new legislation to empower municipalities with speed enforcement capabilities using their own surveillance cameras. This creates opportunities for public tenders that will be open for local, European and U.S. companies with a proven record of success and interest in integrated traffic-safety solutions and smart cities projects.
The legal amendments, approved in late June 2025 by Bulgaria’s Transport and Communications Committee, authorize municipal governments to use their surveillance cameras to monitor vehicle speeds. Until now, this responsibility was limited to police-operated equipment.
The reform also ensures that municipalities retain 50% of the revenue generated from traffic fines, a move aimed at reinvesting in local road-safety initiatives. The remaining half will contribute to the state treasury.
Many municipal cameras, originally installed for security, have been underused because local authorities lacked enforcement powers. Police also struggle to monitor smaller rural roads, where speeding is common. By granting enforcement rights and sharing fine revenues, the new law aims to improve effectiveness.
At the national level, the Ministry of Interior is leading the way, strengthening enforcement by launching a USD 6 million tender in March 2025 for 95 advanced multi-lane, night-capable speed cameras, plus related equipment, and training for 30 camera operators. Nationwide deployment is expected by late 2025.
Sofia municipality has followed suit, planning to install 21 high-tech speed cameras on key streets and intersections that will target areas prone to violations. Additionally, on June 19, 2025, a tender was published for developing a General Plan for Organization of Traffic (GOTR) for all roads in Sofia municipality. By the end of 2025, this plan will update the procedures for organizing traffic flow across the city.
This combined approach aims to create a comprehensive network covering both local and national roads, addressing enforcement gaps.
This topic is well covered by local news outlets such as 24 Chasa, bTV News, OffNews, Dnes.bg, Dunavmost.com, and Daleksandrov.eu. Sofia Municipality also provides regular updates on its official website, offering a clear view of the legislative changes and their impact on road safety in Bulgaria.
More tenders at the national and municipal level are expected to improve highway safety in Bulgaria. For more information regarding tenders, please see:
1) National Tenders Information System
2) Sofia municipality tenders
3) Ministry of Interior Tenders
For more information, contact Peter Delin with the U.S. Commercial Service, at Peter.Delin@trade.gov.