Is corruption on Bulgaria's roads chronic, and who suffers the most from it? - Radio Bulgaria talks to Hristo Radkov, chairman of the Bulgarian Drivers' Association and a long-time heavy-duty truck driver, for his opinion.

According to him, Bulgaria is the country with the strictest control over heavy-duty traffic, and at the same time with the lowest results. How are violations detected? 

"When a vehicle over 3.5 tons, which must be equipped with a tachograph when crossing European borders, is stopped for inspection, there are two ways of control: one is to check the driver's documents, the second is to check the tachograph by removing the card and checking it via device located in the motor vehicle administration buses, or by bringing their device closer to the tachograph, through which they read the information. But in both cases, the date and time of the inspection are recorded on their device, as well as on the tachograph. If there is an excess of the working day, driving hours or another violation that must be sanctioned, the screen lights up red and this information is recorded and subject to future inspection," explains Hristo Radkov.

According to him, foreign drivers are stopped the most, because Bulgarian drivers are obliged to present all kinds of documentation annually, while those from other countries are checked only and exclusively on the road. This also leads to cases of corruption.

"Foreign drivers are mostly stopped for inspection, because the head of every transport company in Bulgaria is called to the traffic police. Any truck with Turkish registration, but not only, that drives goods to Western Europe, the moment you stop it 50 km after the border, is in violation. The waiting at the border alone is 24 hours. During this time, this person does not have a break, and he must have one of at least 9 hours a day, in which the truck must not move. And he, being in the queue, moved the truck, overstayed his working day and then, whoever stops it - this truck is in violation from the first meter it enters Bulgaria. We have created the prerequisites for a "feeder". You cannot avoid it, there is no other option - you have to fall into the trap", Radkov described the unpleasant situation.

A mitigating factor, if we can call it like this is the fact that such practices are widespread far from only in Bulgaria.

"This practice is seen not only in Bulgaria. The control of heavy goods vehicles in different countries is done in different ways. One of the best examples is Germany, where it is carried out by private companies that work for themselves, the fines go to them. In addition to these bodies, the police also control throughout Europe. From there - the closer we get to the Orient, the more the practices of someone stopping you somewhere with a baton increase, which is happening from Hungary onwards. And the conversation gets to the point that the person needs money for soup, for coffee, for cigarettes... They urge you in every way to leave some money in order to complete this control, which may, but not necessarily, end with a sanction."