Let us put a STOP to dangerous driver behaviour on the roads. Government to tighten road traffic rules
15.07.2021
The government plans to increase penalties for traffic violations – “A car must not be a lethal weapon in the hands of irresponsible people – and in the case of those driving under the influence – thugs behind the wheel. In line with our announcement and with my exposé, I obliged the government to take decisive action in this regard”, said Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki during a picnic initiating the next edition of the #GoodDriver campaign. Initiated by PKN ORLEN two years ago, the campaign aims to increase the awareness of Polish drivers and thereby improve road safety.
Tightening road traffic rules to improve road safety
Road safety is the government’s priority. “We are changing the rules concerning tickets and fines. Hopefully, these increased penalties will result in calmer and more careful driving. Sending your child to school or taking your family for a walk must not be a life-threatening activity”, the Prime Minister emphasized.
The changes in the regulations will enable amore effective fight against road hogs, including by imposing stricter penalties for perpetrators of traffic offences. Under the new regulations, relatives of victims who died in road accidents may also receive pensions. Another solution proposed is linking the motor vehicle insurance rates to the number of penalty points and the type of offences committed. The proceeds from the fines will be transferred solely to the National Road Fund, which finances road investment projects.
Prime Minister: No leniency will be shown to drink-driving thugs
Tightening road traffic rules is a necessity. Unfortunately, the statistical data on accidents on Polish roads leave little room for optimism. Therefore, the government is making every effort to resolve this issue.
“Both urban and rural areas must be made safer. We have one of the highest traffic-related death rates in the European Union”, said the Prime Minister. “Last year, the police arrested more than 1,500 drink drivers who caused accidents or collisions. It is a crime waiting to happen, and it puts lives at risk. Enough of such behaviour. No leniency will be shown to drink-driving thugs”, he added.
According to police data, a total of 23,540 accidents on public roads, living streets and in restricted public traffic areas were reported in 2020. They resulted in 2,491 fatalities and 26,463 injuries – with 8,805 of the latter being debilitating injuries. Importantly, nearly 90% of them happened through the fault of the drivers.
#GoodDriver campaign
#GoodDriver is a campaign aimed at promoting road safety. It is meant to encourage Polish citizens to drive safely. The campaign has been underway for two years thanks to the patronage of PKN ORLEN, which has also involved ORLEN TEAM athletes in it. This year’s participants included Jakub Przygoński, Bartek Marszałek, Kamil Wiśniewski, as well as Kamena Rally Team and more. During picnics organised as part of the campaign, experienced drivers explain the principles of safe driving to visitors. They also emphasize that Poland’s public roads are no place for racing – only specially designated areas are. This is particularly important during summertime when many holidaymakers travel around Poland with their entire families.
