RIA warns motorists travelling to North-Western Bulgaria to make sure vehicles are equipped for safe winter driving

Drivers planning to travel in North-Western Bulgaria tomorrow, December 14, are advised to set off in vehicles prepared for winter conditions. Lower temperatures and rainfall is expected, which increases the conditions for black ice.

In mountainous areas, it will snow and a new snow cover of up to 10 cm is expected. For December 14, meteorologists have issued code yellow for dangerous weather in 6 districts - Vidin, Montana, Vratsa, Pernik, Sofia city and Sofia district.

The Road Infrastructure Agency advises motorists to drive with caution, at a speed consistent with the road conditions, to keep the necessary distance and not to take risky maneuvers. The blocking of traffic by vehicles not prepared for winter conditions hampers the journey of all other drivers and the work of snow clearing equipment.

District road offices and road maintenance companies are monitoring weather forecasts by region and are on standby to take the necessary action to treat surfaces in high mountain areas and passes where slippery and icy conditions are likely on roads. The aim is to ensure road passability and therefore start preventive and snow clearance activities as soon as weather deterioration is forecast.

Priority will be given to motorways, the busiest routes on the first and second class road network and passes providing links between Northern and Southern Bulgaria.

Up-to-date information on the road conditions and maintenance is available on the RIA website, www.api.bg, and on the telephone line 0700 130 20 at any time.

The Agency has a 24-hour Situation Centre which collects and summarises data on the state of the national roads.