Driving courses in our country are facing serious changes, including mandatory night driving, new technical requirements and tightening of control. Due to the new rules and the economic situation, the price for category "B" in some places can reach about 1000 euros. According to Krasimir Georgiev, however, this amount is unrealistically low for quality training. He gave the example of Germany, where at the same costs the course costs over 4000 euros. According to him, the fact that in our country the price is still around 1000 euros means that quality is being saved - not all exercises are being worked out and kilometers are being saved.
On the air of "Hello, Bulgaria" Krasimir Georgiev from the Association for Qualification of Motorists was categorical that the new administrative requirements in themselves are not a reason for a higher price. “The only reason that could be for some increase in price is a possible continued increase in the price of fuel”, he said. According to him, fuel is one of the main costs in the training of candidate drivers.
Georgiev expressed the opinion that in order to have real quality and fewer deaths on the road, the price of the course in Bulgaria should be “doubled” and reach 2,000 euros, which would still be half the level in Germany.
Regarding the introduction of mandatory night driving, Georgiev revealed that this is not new in the program. “Driving in the dark - so-called night driving - has always been a mandatory exercise in the curriculum”, the expert pointed out. According to him, the fact that “a huge part” of the trainers did not implement it is due solely to “the lack of any control by the “Automobile Administration”.
The expert supported the proposed measure to start the course from the beginning if it is not completed within two years. He pointed out cases in which students started in 2009 and finished in 2026, which is absurd given the changes in the rules. The Association also proposes the introduction of mandatory refresher training for drivers who have not practiced for 10 years before renewing their license. Georgiev motivated this by the fact that in a decade, an average of 20 amendments are made to the Road Traffic Act, which active drivers are not aware of.
Krassimir Georgiev expressed serious doubts that new electronic applications and GPS control will solve the problem if the data continues to be entered manually. He stated that currently a “loophole” is left - the theory is mandatory for the teacher to attend, but not for the student. Thus, the instructor can note in the electronic application that the class was held while the office is empty.
The expert sharply criticized the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration”, pointing to “a glaring lack of competence and, above all, a desire for change”. He emphasized that a real reform requires a “checking” system of the students themselves when coming and leaving theory classes, to ensure that they are actually present in the office.