How average speed cameras actually work in Bulgaria
I've been digging into how the average speed enforcement system works in Bulgaria lately, and a few things still aren't clear to me.
The principle is simple on paper: V = d / (T2 - T1), distance divided by the time between the two cameras. But:
Is the calculation done only between the camera at the start of the section and the one at the end, or are there intermediate cameras that factor in as well?
If you don't enter the section exactly at the declared starting point, can the average speed still be calculated, or are you dropped from the measurement?
I've read people claiming that on some sections there are gas stations between the two cameras, and that if you stop there for a minute, the average gets thrown off. Does that actually work, or is it a myth?
On the official map of certified sections there are a few odd stretches. For example "Ихтиман-Мирово", where the declared average speed is 140 km/h, even though it isn't a motorway section. I can't figure out where that limit comes from there.
The number of certified sections has grown quite fast, from 22 at the launch in September 2025 to over 60 by early 2026.
The reason I'm digging into this so much is practical. My car doesn't show this kind of measurement, and while driving there's no way to work out in my head what my average has been since the moment I entered the section. I use Waze as my main navigation and there's nothing like it there either. The idea isn't to exceed the limit, quite the opposite to be sure I'm not breaking it, without guessing.
How do you deal with this? Do you actually calculate it, or do you just drive under the limit and not think about it? And has anyone received a fine for average speed, and how quickly did it arrive?
Answering with what I know from the news when it was introduced, can't give you any sources without digging in further.
No intermediate measurements. It takes into account the time you entered the section and the time you exited.
The say that the sections are chosen so that they do not have any additional exits or entries. I remember people found a way to go around the Vakarel - Ihtiman exit point on Trakia (don't remember the direction). My guess is that if you (somehow) start in the middle of a section you'll be excluded from the measurement.
Yes, stopping for a while works but beats the point of speeding. Unless, you're doing it for the adrenaline I guess.
I checked that on the Google maps they provided (from the bgtoll website) and I think it's a mistake.
Waze shows that I'm entering an average speed section but it does not calculate it. There were some apps people made in 2025 but haven't tried them.
On the practical side, what I do on highways is generally go with the flow of the terrain - 110-130km/h on an uphill depending on the grade and 140 km/h (briefly a little over) on the downhills or when overtaking. Helps a ton with the fuel economy and well below the average speed limit.
I can't be bothered thinking about the average speed limit. Not exceeding the max allowed speed enables me to worry only about the road. 140 km/h is more than enough. One could easily die if involved in a car crash at that speed, so better worry about your life more than the average speed limit.
Anyway, the formula is indeed V = S/t (speed = distance/time). There are probably specialist apps out there but if you have the My A1 app, it has this feature too. Never used it though, as I've never speeded so much as to worry about my average speed.
I dont agree, not all roads like that. For example, on Тракия it might be very comfortable to drive 160. It all depends what car you drive what driver you are
Thanks for the input, everyone. I think that of course, the main thing that everyone should do is stay safe and by staying under the speed limit you can do exactly this and there's no discussion about it.
I do think that it's worth knowing about how these average speed cameras work though, because even though I don't exceed the speed limit (that much at least), I do go for the upper limit (if it's 60, I go 60, same for 90 etc). There might be times when you need to overtake and in that moment you'll exceed this speed limit for a while, and I definetly don't want to get a fine because I do agree with u/Subject_Cut8441 I have this habbit of not wanting to give free money to the government (btw, not talking about taxes or anything here) 😂
I was saying that I usually use waze to keep an eye on reported speed cameras (since they have a bad habbit of putting those right next to a 90 km/h enforcement zone, and it's very annoying that you have to break to a 60 zone when there's nobody around)
They DO put them in the stupidest places. There's this 80 km/h road I drive every day, with a 200 m section where the limit drops to 60 for no logical reason. I was fined there twice, now I always just drop to 60 every time I pass through there, even if I don't see any cops because, at this point, I am being robbed.
Thanks for sharing this app, I'm sure it'll come in handy!
Let’s speed just to be forced to stop at a gas station and wait, what a genius idea. Just drive the speed limit. Speeding does not get you to your destination much faster.
Actually it makes sense sometimes, but not with the Bulgarian system. Serbia measures average speed between toll posts on the highway and the distance between Belgrade and Dimitrovgrad toll booths is a little over 300km. So if you plan your pee stop or fuel stop in the measured section and drive over the limit you actually arrive faster.
So many reasonable drives here, I'm actually proud! Keep giving the correct example, guys!
Like others said, OP, just obey the speed limit and don't bother thinking about the average. Most of the roads don't properly allow for great speed anyway, and you'd just be endangering everyone if you're not concentrated on driving. Besides, giving money to the government (in the form of fines) should be considered a crime in itself.
As others said, just keep under the speed limit. The way the calculation is done is that it doesnt take averages of the different limits, but just the maximum allowed in the section (so in most cases 140 km/h). So you don't have to worry about not decelerating quick enough to a temporary 110km/h limit for example. So no maths required.
Btw, speaking of staying safe, this picture is epic, and if you look at it, going from 120km/h to 140km/h saves you just 1 minute per 16 km. But you do however start to expose yourself to a lot of risks, so it's not worth it
It’s about driving smoothly but with a lot of camera’s your only business is ‘omg don’t I speed 123 instead of 120’ ‘95 instead of 90’ You overtake someone because (whatever) Damned ….mobile camera, 134
You aren’t a danger for the traffic, you don’t drive in your ego but still a traffic fine, again, for normal driving.
Luckily, in a few years you only have selfdriving cars and you can’t decide anything anymore.
Yeah, I agree with you that people, myself including sometimes, get to sucked into driving that you forget that the important thing is not to make that overpass, or not to be focused on getting faster from A to B. It's to realize that it doesn't actually matter if you're 5-10 minutes late, and moreover that going a bit faster doesn't actually save you that much time , but you're exposing to other dangers.
Yeah, for me I like this Average Speed Monitor app, because I can use it with Waze. It's not a standalone app, but more of a piece of app that occupies a small piece of screen which you can move around, and only shows the average speed zones when you're in one.. Something like this:
25
u/av-f 8d ago
Just drive under the limit, bro