Responsible driving is the new cool

Driving fast, dark tinted windows, loud music… Pretty lame! Responsible driving is the new cool – and it should have always been!

Bulgaria's unfortunate leading position in traffic accident fatalities among EU member states is alarming. While factors like subpar construction works, poorly maintained roads, and aging vehicles contribute, irresponsible driving and a lack of legal accountability are primary causes of these tragic accidents. So what can one do? Here’s one idea, by ACS senior Gabriela Panova ‘25:

"I initiated the National Road Safety Education and Awareness campaign for Children in March 2024 after coming across heartbreaking statistics about Bulgaria's leading position among EU member states in terms of traffic accident fatalities. That's when I conceived the idea of producing road safety resources for those most vulnerable - the children. То make the topic appeal to this young audience, I decided to create engaging videos."

So Gabriela spearheaded the creation of engaging educational short videos on pedestrian, cycling, and public transport safety, supported by School "Simeon Radev". Next, she crafted lesson plans on pedestrian, cycling, and public transport safety and has since presented them in collaboration with fellow ACSer Elizabeth Dimitrova '25 to over 200 kids in 75th School “Todor Kableshkov”, 129th School “Antim I”, 1st School “Pencho Slaveykov”, and a couple of kindergartens. “It has been such a fulfilling experience - the children participated, answered questions and enjoyed the videos,” Gabriela shared.

Gabriela recently won a contest by the Stefan Stefanov Foundation with her cycling safety video, part of the prize fittingly a free driving course.

We are incredibly proud of Gabriela, Elizabeth, and young people like them who are raising their voices on this critical issue. Way to give example what it is to understand that it's never too late to act and to be dedicated to raising awareness, so that one day, dangerous behaviors like texting while driving will be a thing of the past!