Society is accepting the policy of securing buses with belts and awaits for initiatives in this direction, Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Rossen Jeliazkov announced during a hearing in the Committee on Transport, Information Technology and Communications at the National Assembly. Representatives of the branch organizations of coache services and the carriers also took part in session of the commission. The Transport Minister was definite that an optimal approach should be found so that responsibility is balanced rather than shared just by the industry and business. He added that it was not possible to oblige the carriers alone to monitor the installation of the belts in buses, as this would create difficulties in both the enforcement and the control.
Minister Rossen Jeliazkov expressed his readiness to directly monitor the drafting of the secondary legislation related to the requirement to equip the buses with belts. He assured that this would be in close contact with the non-governmental sector and the branch organizations in order to elaborate the best texts guaranteeing the safety of this mode of transport. Jeliazkov specified that systems that are eligible for implementation should be introduced, but this should be done in an acceptable and effective way.
Minister Rossen Jeliazkov commented for the press that the Road Traffic Act is yet to be promulgated after which the secondary legislation will be updated, in which will be considered all concerns, expressed by the carriers. "There will not be controversial issues such as installing belts in urban transport, for example. Where necessary, mandatory belts will be installed to ensure the safety of passengers", added Rossen Jeliazkov.
