Are the Romanians ready for the new highways? Reactions after the opening of Bucharest – Focșani: “They were all running at 150 km/h”

Excessive speed in adverse conditions and aggressive driving were the most reported problems encountered by drivers on the Bucharest – Focșani Highway, fully open to traffic with the completion of its last segment. Many Romanians complain about the traffic experience.

Aggressive driving is among the most reported problems on highways. Photo: Daniel Guță

From November 27, 2025, with the completion of the works on the 14-kilometer segment between the towns of Pietroasele and Buzău, drivers can drive uninterrupted on the 200 kilometers of highway (on the A7 and A3) between the cities of Bucharest and Focșani.

In the next period, the completion of two other segments of the Moldova Motorway (A7), included in the 95-kilometer section between the cities of Focșani and Bacău, is expected, and in 2026, with the completion of the works on the 78 kilometers between Bacău and Pașcani, the historical regions of Moldova and Muntenia will be connected by a highway of almost 400 kilometers.

At the same time, on the Capital route, several of the cities in the north-east of Romania will be connected by the high-speed roads to Dobrogea (via A2 Bucharest–Constanța) and Oltenia (via A0, A1, DEx 12 Bucharest–Craiova).

The new highway in Moldova was expected by many Romanians, but the opening of its last section was not without controversy. The main reason is the lack of caution of the Romanian drivers who used it.

Some Romanians have compared it to the “National Road 2” (E85) Bucharest – Suceava (Vama Siret), also called the “Death Road”, due to the numerous road accidents recorded on its route of approximately 450 kilometers. Hundreds of people have died in recent years in accidents on the DN2, a busy road with numerous sections without lane separation and restrictions where the risk of accidents is higher.

Excessive speed and flashes, not absent from the Moldavian Highway

However, the national road will be less congested with the completion of the new highway segments, which will take over an important part of the road traffic on DN2. Some drivers, however, believe that the highway will not solve the problems caused by the poor road education of many road users.

“The A7 will become the new DN2 (with the popular name). I arrived after a long time through the Moldova area and left on Friday evening from Bucharest to Neamț. Do you know how it is to drive on the A7 from the A3 node upwards? Stay between shots in lane 1 or at least 150 km/h in lane 2! You can't? The car doesn't move? You don't have blood? Flash and signal! It didn't happen to me once or twice, but constantly on the whole highway to Focșani. And then, on DN2, I'll take you in line again, why don't you get on the side, preferably in the ditch. And that in the conditions where it was raining and foggy.” complained one driver on the Reddit platform.

Many Romanians claimed that they went through similar experiences on the Bucharest – Focșani route.

“Most people understand that the maximum limit is mandatory because otherwise you “confuse” and “endanger”. I went on Saturday on the A3/A7 at 80-100 km/h on the B1: torrential rain, wind, the legal limit 80 km/h. Well, for an hour or so I went, absolutely everyone overtook me, starting with the oldest Logan”, someone else noticed.

Another driver says he also noticed the rush of drivers on the new highway.

“I was also on the A3/A7 on Saturday and I was amazed at what I saw. In conditions of fog, torrential rain and strong wind, they were all rushing in lane 2 at 150 km/h, as if they were late for work, one behind the other. Some didn't even have their lights on. It was enough for one to aquaplan and they were causing at least 20 car crashes.” add this one.

Another driver says he has become accustomed to being noticed by others on the highway, regardless of the speed at which he is traveling.

“No matter how fast I go on the freeway, there's always another bison that wants to go faster. So I don't bother avoiding everyone, I see my way. Who doesn't like it, give me flashes.” he concludes.

Another Romanian said that as sections of the A7 were opened, the situation worsened in terms of congestion.

“Inevitably, when you have a highway with only two lanes and one is occupied by shooting lanes, almost all the traffic will move to the only remaining free lane. Legally, no one says not to exceed five shooting lanes at once, and that lane is not free so that those who drive 160 can have “their lane” from one end to the other.” he states.

Drivers satisfied with the traffic on the Moldovei Highway

Those in a hurry should leave home earlier, says someone else.

“I go 130-140 km/h and I still find one driver who wants to put me between the trucks because he comes with 150“, completes the driver.

Another driver believes that there are more traffic problems during holiday periods. These will be solved with the imposition of new preventive measures.

“Most likely, on vacation, everyone is in a hurry. Many are with friends in the car and they have to show that they push others aside with flashes. The situation will be fixed when cameras are installed to measure the average speed. It doesn't suit me, because I also go faster sometimes. But that's what happens when everyone abuses some rules: controls will be tightened. Maybe not in a year or two, but in five years it's likely.” believe this one.

Many Romanians praise the experiences on the new highway and claim that they did not encounter any problems when they traveled it. In addition, the closer you get to Focșani, the more relaxed the traffic becomes.

“I drove 4-5 times on the Autostrada Moldovei and only once I had a bison flash me while I was overtaking. Otherwise, the highway is exceptionally free”, he states.

Some drivers believe that the problems are caused by those who go too slowly and want to overtake without considering the traffic at the time.

“Many drivers on the freeway are overtaking indiscriminately, it doesn't matter who is coming from behind and especially at what speed. Unfortunately, we won't get rid of them until we have some minimum speed rules on the freeway. You want to go 90-100? Go on the parallel DN”is the solution proposed by him.