The level of safety on the Polish roads has increased in the past ten years. This is, undoubtedly, an outcome of a number of actions taken by state authorities, including in the first place the Police, local governments, scientific institutions, non-governmental organisations, media representatives as well as private persons. In the past 10 years the number of road casualties decreased by 41 percent and the number of people injured in road accidents went down by 31 percent. The downward trend has continued throughout the entire 10-year period, despite the constantly increasing number of cars on Polish roads.
According to NIK, the number of fatalities and injuries in road accidents went down significantly due to the following factors:
1) Expansion and modernisation of road infrastructure
Construction of new stretches of motorways and express roads results in moving the traffic from life-threatening single carriageways to dual carriageways. It helps reduce the most dangerous road accidents, especially head-on and side collisions.
2) Modernisation of local roads
Positive changes in local roads network, construction of new road stretches and modernisation of the existing ones improved the local roads infrastructure which is to serve the road traffic safety. In many small towns pavements were built along the roads, traffic islands appeared before crossroads. Roundabouts were set up in place of dangerous crossroads. Pedestrian crossings were marked and speed cameras, sometimes also traffic lights, were installed in their vicinity. Dangerous holes were patched, deep ruts were liquidated. NIK stands in a position all the said factors contributed to a decrease in the number of accidents, casualties and injuries.
3) Intensified efforts of the Police
In its audits NIK positively evaluated intensification of measures taken by the Police, in particular the growing number of traffic police officers. Efforts to eliminate drivers who pose a threat to other road traffic participants are of vital importance, particularly as regards drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The number of accidents with drunk drivers fell by nearly 40 percent within the past 5 years. NIK also appreciated greater activity of police officers in terms of eliminating road hogs from the roads. Our audits confirm that marked and unmarked police cars with video cameras recording different types of traffic offences, including speeding, were moved by the Police to particularly dangerous stretches of roads, where dangerous accidents used to happen before.
4) Setup of automatic system of road traffic supervision
According to NIK, efforts taken by the General Inspector of Road Transport in terms of use and expansion of the network of fixed speed cameras were as required. NIK confirms that the speed cameras were installed in places with the history of dangerous road accidents. The database of the Automatic Road Traffic Supervision Centre shows that in 2013 in most places with fixed speed cameras the road traffic safety improved since 2012.
5) Development of rescue services
Rescue services addressed to road accident victims are provided by units being part of the National Rescue and Fire-Fighting System and the National Medical Rescue Service.
The number of units being part of the National Rescue and Fire-Fighting System is still growing. In the past 10 years the time of getting to the accident scene shortened. In 2004 within 15 minutes rescue units reached 90 percent of accident sites, currently it is over 97 percent. Firefighters were usually the first to offer professional medical aid to the injured by the time the National Medical Rescue units reached the scene.
The medical rescue system in Poland provided quick medical aid at the accident scene to people in emergency medical condition. They also offered transport and treatment in hospital emergency departments. More than 12 specialist trauma centres were opened offering treatment to people who got serious bodily injuries. Besides, the purchase of modern helicopters considerably improved operational range of the Helicopter Medical Rescue Service and resulted in increasing the number of flights, including night flights.
6) Strategic planning activities
The National Road Safety Programme for 2013-2020 properly defines objectives and directions of the state policy in terms of road traffic safety. The directions specified in the programme correspond with international guidelines in this area.
However, Polish roads are still among the most dangerous ones in the European Union. Poland is in the penultimate place in Europe in terms of death rate per million inhabitants.
If you want to read more on NIK’s findings and recommendations concerning road traffic safety, read NIK’s special report in that matter:
