Road safety is a pressing issue that poses a serious threat over anybody on the road. Every day pеople witness countless examples of how either negligence or non-observance of the traffic regulations can create life-threatening situations. Unfortunately, such situations have been encountered by the AUBG community as well.

Veronika Yugova, a first-year student from Blagoevrad, got hit by a car on a November evening last year while she was going home from a rehearsal in Skaptopara. The incident took place on the roundabout next to the Aseva restaurant near the campus. The reason behind it – the car’s high speed. Yugova got off with no serious injuries apart from her “walking hardly” for several days but the event left her feeling unrestful.

Courtesy of Svetlozar Apostolov

“While I was crossing the road, a car hit me,”  Yugova said. “When the driver saw me, he hit the brakes, but the car still hit me. He […] asked me whether I need help, but I was scared so I refused and he left,” she then added.“The drivers need to drive more slowly and carefully and there should be more police. Also, cameras reporting the speed on the street need to be set up,” Yugova continued. 

Another person to almost experience the same fate was the adjunct professor in the Mathematics and Science department Valentin Iliev.  On a foggy and rainy evening in the fall of 2015, he was crossing the walkway  between the campus and the market. On that spot he saw a Mercedes driving at around 60 km/h just three meters away from him, with no intention of stopping whatsoever.  “If I did not see him, I would be dead,”  Iliev commented. “The drivers tend to speed up when the road is going up but then they have to slow down before the walkway. However, they usually don’t do it,” Iliev added.

Courtesy of Svetlozar Apostolov

According to Iliev, if a the speed bump is built on the road, the whole situation is going to take a new direction. He has already shared his opinion with policemen on duty next to the crossing, however, no improvements were made. In this case he then suggests that the university take the issue to the town authorities.

At present the bridge crossing in closer proximity to the AUBG marble sign and the roundabout adjacent to the Aseva restaurant are the two walkways used most often by AUBG pedestrians. The first crossing currently has an appropriate flashing road sign as a warning, but its almost washed-out white stripes and the speed limit sign of 30km/h at a distant 30 metes after the crossing itself are two troublesome factors. The crossing at Aseva still has no clear road surface marking.

Until the authorities realize that people are in danger and take the necessary precautions to prevent undesirable events from happening, students will have to keep an extra eye on the road and be ware of the dangers that might be waiting round the corner.

This article was prepared by AUBG student Diana Elagina.

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