On April 09, 2014 a joint road safety initiative of the Sofia "Road Safety Advocates" team and "Open Youth" will be carried out, starting at 12:30 in the yard of 138th high school “Prof. Vasil Zlatarski”.

The initiative will include: • alco- and drugvision goggles, simulating vision under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and what is the effect on human capabilities; • driving simulator, recreating risky driving situations; • specially designed weight calculator, showing everyone how heavy his/her body is in a collision with a given speed (50, 90 or 130 km/h); • puzzle showing the participant the inability of a person to do two different activities at the same concentration.

The team consists of three very motivated pupils from the school led by one of their teachers and supported by a number of classmates.  In their own words: “The school has an ongoing policy for educating its pupils how to be responsible road users and builds in them a road safety culture”.  The young people audited the crossroad of bul. “Shipchenski prohod” and “Copernicus” str. in Slatina district. During the hour long audit the team spotted 75 motorized vehicles. The big issue on this spot is that around 90% of all drivers are driving in the wrong lane (there is a tram line running on the boulevard). 76% are changing lanes without signaling first and 70% of the parked cars are unlawfully parked. Out of the 15 pedestrians observed, 40% have crossed on a red traffic light signal and 20% have crossed at unmarked location.

The general conclusion that has been drawn is that the road lanes are not obeyed by the majority of the drivers. The left lane is for left turn only and the right lane is for going straight or right. However those turning left are stepping on the tram lines that run parallel to the left lane and those going straight are using the left turn lane which in its self is a violation of the rules of the road. Those turning right have to wait for the pedestrians to cross since the traffic light is showing green for both road user groups at the same time.
In the right most lane there is a constant number of unlawfully parked vehicles obstructing the traffic. As a possible solution the team suggests that the left turn be forbidden at this crossroad, enhanced enforcement on parking 100 meters before and after the crossroad, as well as the installment of raised crosswalk with running lights at the crossing of bul. Shipchenski prohod” and “Liditse” str. 

The project "Road Safety Advocates" is co-financed under the "Youth in Action" program of the European Union, action 1.3 by NC "EYPI". It is aimed at educating young people not only to detect problems but also to look for solutions.