Taxi drivers across Bulgaria have issued a stark warning of a nationwide blockade before the Christmas and New Year holidays if their demands for the restoration of civil liability insurance premiums to previous levels are not met by December 15.
The planned blockades, which will target key highways such as Trakia, Hemus, and Struma, as well as border crossings, threaten to disrupt travel and trade during the busy holiday period.
The protests have gained momentum following a series of sharp increases in mandatory “Civil Liability” insurance premiums, which taxi drivers argue are financially crippling their businesses. The drivers contend that the exorbitant rates are unjust and fail to account for the individual risk posed by the driver rather than the vehicle.
In a bid for reform, they are calling for a revision of the bonus-malus system, proposing a model where insurance rates are based on the personal driving behavior of the individual, not the type of vehicle they operate.
In the short term, the focus remains on halting further increases in insurance premiums, with taxi drivers seeking immediate relief. The ongoing protests, including the most recent demonstration in Plovdiv, have attracted attention to their cause.
On this occasion, taxi drivers blocked one lane of traffic on “Shesti Septemvri” Blvd. between 10:30 and 11 a.m., causing a temporary disruption. Police were deployed to manage the situation and ensure that the protest remained peaceful.
This was the third protest staged in Plovdiv, highlighting the growing frustration among taxi drivers who argue that the increased insurance premiums are unfairly burdening both drivers and the general public.
The protests have been escalating in intensity, with earlier demonstrations seeing significant disruptions, including the blocking of the major “Trakia” highway by over 1,000 drivers. The blockade lasted several hours and led to talks with MPs from various political parties, resulting in a temporary suspension of the protest.
However, taxi drivers have warned that they will take further action unless their demands are met by the December 15 deadline.
The dispute centers on the sharp increase in civil liability insurance rates, which taxi drivers claim are disproportionately high compared to the risk posed by their profession.
They argue that accidents are caused by the actions of drivers, not the vehicles themselves, and therefore, the insurance rates should reflect individual driving behavior rather than the type of vehicle being insured.
To strengthen their position, taxi drivers are calling for the involvement of bus and international transport associations in their efforts, hoping that broader support will help amplify their demands.
The protest movement is gaining traction as more drivers express their dissatisfaction with the ongoing rate hikes, which they claim are making it increasingly difficult to run a profitable business.
As the deadline approaches, the government faces growing pressure to resolve the issue. If negotiations fail, the planned blockades are likely to cause significant disruptions across the country, particularly during the busy holiday season, when travel is at its peak.
The outcome of this standoff will be closely watched as it could have wider implications for insurance policies and business practices in Bulgaria’s transportation sector.