1, 2, 3, 4.5 seconds sometimes = death! Count to almost five because then you killed a man. This is the balance of the road. In FACTS, we already wrote that the explanation of the accident near Aksakovo, in which a person died, and a car of the NSO was involved in it, in which was the co-chairman of “We continue the change” Kiril Petkov, is in the speed of movement. Even Interior Minister Kalin Stoyanov said that the car of the elderly person who died took the right of way. This was made clear… Are there appointed examinations? Or they are already ready, but they have not been announced to the public, but the minister knows them… As they say, it's the details. We are used to politicians talking…
What are the facts
The tragedy near Aksakovo happened at an intersection. The elderly person switches from a secondary road to a priority road… Before FACTS, people who often travel from there shared that there is no direct line of sight to the road - which is on the right, from which you join the right-of-way. It is no coincidence that the head of the Military District Prosecutor's Office in Sliven Hristo Tinev commented that it is “… it is possible that the two drivers contributed to the accident”. We'll see about that. But…
If we look at Art. 14. (1) of the Road Traffic Act, it says at what distance the sign indicating the speed of traffic should be placed:
(Supplement - SG No. 35 of 2015, in force from 18.05.2015) Road signs and other means of signaling must be visible from a distance that allows the driver to promptly take actions to ensure traffic safety.
(2) The minimum visibility distance of the road sign (in m), depending on the speed of movement V (in km/h), is as follows:
1. at V up to 30 km/h - 50 m;
2. at V up to 50 km/h - 100 m;
3. at V up to 90 km/h - 150 m;
4. at V over 90 km/h - 250 m.
(3) When the visibility distance under para. 2 cannot be provided:
1. the traffic sign is duplicated above or to the left of the traffic lane;
2. the road sign is placed in advance, with an additional T1 plate indicating the distance after which the road sign is valid.
With a limit of 60 km/h – 150 meters. We see this 60 km/h sign at every intersection outside of an uninhabited place.
What response time we have
The Institute for Road Safety analyzed the scene of the accident and noted that on the side of "Dobrudzha" street there is actually a "Stop" sign, which must be obeyed by drivers due to the heavy traffic on the other road, which has no dividing line. At this place, road 29 is a right turn with a relatively large diameter of about 400-600 m. Nevertheless, the turn is so sharp that when the cars are moving towards Varna, the first opportunity for drivers to see a car stopped at the "Stop" sign. is about 140 m from the intersection. THERE IS LARGE VEGETATION, SIGNS AND A CURVED ROAD. But clear visibility to the intersection is less than 140 meters.
A simple speed bill shows the following
When moving at 60 km/h, we pass 150 meters in about 9 seconds.
When moving at 100 km/h, we cover 150 meters in about 4.5 seconds.
If the distance allowing good visibility is 120-130 m, this may be enough to stop if driving at 60 km/h. But at speeds around and above 100 km/h, we won't be counting to 4.5 seconds, but HITTING into whatever is in front of us – car, wagon, tire, truck, hen, wild boar, etc.
It is also noted that the turn is to the right and does not provide good visibility, because there are also several large signs and trees, which further complicate the visibility between the two drivers. So it is possible that the injured driver stopped at the "Stop" sign, waited, and when he started, did not see another car coming from the left at all. In 2-4 seconds - the time it would take a car from a standstill to enter its lane, a 60km/h car would cover 50m, but a 110-120km/h car would cover over 100 meters, i.e. practically it is almost impossible to stop and avoid a crash.
Conclusion for drivers
STOP. DRIVE SLOWER. When it says 60 km/h, slow down. It is better to be whistled and cursed than sung. SLOW DOWN to get from point A to point B where someone is waiting for you.