Daredevil motorists in Bulgaria have been playing a death-defying game on the city’s streets known as ‘Russian Road Roulette’.
According to Bulgaria’s chief prosecutor’s office, the craze started in the country’s capital city Sofia in late summer and it involves motorists speeding through red lights at busy intersections late at night.
The rules reportedly state that to win, the driver must not touch their brakes or crash into a pedestrians, other cars or motorcyclists.
Bulgarian officials say that up to 5000 euro (£4500) are being staked on some runs and authorities are now keeping a close eye on some of the roads being used for the game. This is not always possible, however, as often races are organised at short notice by text.
Commissioner Vanio Stoevski, head of the Sofia Road police, said: “Every time we receive a signal for such an unregulated race, we send patrols.”
The most common cars and participants reportedly involved are young males in their 20s driving SUVs. In June two people died after a motorcyclist crashed into a crowd watching on Sofia's ring road
