Student creates map of dangerous road sections in Bulgaria

In a remarkable act of civic initiative, student Martin Atanasov from Sofia has created “Black Road,” an interactive online map that visualizes all road traffic accidents in Bulgaria from 2021 to the present. The project was motivated by the tragedy in which 12-year-old Siana died and aims to change public perception of road safety by providing clear and accessible information. Despite constructive cooperation from the Ministry of Interior, the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) has refused to provide key data on the state of Bulgaria's roads.

What does the “Black Road” map show?

The map visualizes over 177,000 traffic accidents for the period from 2021 to 2025. Of these, 24,278 resulted in injuries and 1,478 were fatal. Each accident is marked with its exact location, date, and time. The platform allows filtering by various criteria, such as fatal accidents or accidents with injuries, type of accident, location of the accident, road, and others.

With this detailed information, the platform aims to identify so-called “black spots” – the most dangerous places where accidents occur repeatedly. Ultimately, Black Road aims to create a basis for better understanding and focus public perception on the comprehensiveness of the problems leading to road accidents. In this way, the project seeks to motivate action and accountability on the part of institutions, providing a basis for a more informed conversation and encouraging them to take measures where prevention can save the most lives.

Martin emphasizes that his goal is not to investigate, but to provide a tool for analysis and action.

I believe that information should serve people, so let's all use this tool for good. Because if we know where the problem is, there is no excuse not to solve it,” he says.

Tragedy as a catalyst: Why Black Road was created

The idea for Black Road was born after the tragic accident in March 2025 that killed 12-year-old Siana.

I wondered why there was no accessible way to see the full picture of road accidents and the condition of roads in the country,” Martin shared in a Facebook post.

He is convinced that public data should serve the people, especially when it concerns their lives and safety.

Instead of waiting for action from the authorities, Martin decided to take matters into his own hands. For weeks, he taught himself about Geographic Information Systems (GIS) using various tools. With the generous support of Esri Bulgaria (which provided software) and ICDSoft (hosting and domain), as well as the communications agency Yanev & Yanev, which backed his idea, “Black Road” became a reality.

The data: Ministry of Interior cooperates, API refuses

The main source of information for Black Road is official data from the Ministry of Interior. Martin submitted a request under the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) to the Ministry of Interior – Traffic Police, requesting all registered traffic accidents in Bulgaria for the period from January 1, 2021, to April 14, 2025. The Ministry of Interior responded constructively and provided the full set of data within the legal deadline. The information includes the exact location, date, road category, severity of the accident (fatalities/injuries), type of accident, and other attributes.

However, the experience with the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) is completely different. Martin requested information on when the last repairs were carried out on each section of the national road network. The API refused to provide the requested information, despite its legal obligation, arguing that “the processing would take an excessive amount of time and resources.” Martin appealed the API's refusal to the Sofia City Administrative Court.

Translated with DeepL.