Holiday travel is expected to start as of today, with more than half a million Bulgarians travelling to celebrate Christmas and the New Year in another town or village and some 70,000 arriving in the country.

As is usual, traffic is worst along Struma and Trakia motorways, as thousands of cars set out for the provinces and in the direction of Turkey. “The organization of traffic security and safety is very serious,” said Lachezar Blizankov from Traffic Police for the BNR, and added there will be an increased police presence at the entrances and exits of big cities due to the heavy traffic, as well as around shopping centres. There will be frequent roadside tests for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and for speeding.