Poland
Polish Road Fatalities
Warsaw,Poland 25 February, 2006 - The European Commission says that the number of fatalities on Poland's roads increased by 3% over the period 2001 to 2004. Data beyond 2004 is not yet available to them so they cannot say if the increase continued through 2005.
They gave several reasons for the increasing death rate. They include the condition of Polish road and an increase in the number of cars on the roads. The fact that Poles drive with a sense of bravado and do not realize that the increase in the number of cars on the road requires an increased awareness of driver caution were also listed as reasons for the increased fatality rate.
In Poland itself the people and the press generally blame the bad roads for accidents. It is rare to hear the drivers criticized.
When Polish Olympic Champion Otylia Jedrzejczak was involved in a car accident that killed her brother, television coverage of the event included a lot of commentary about the state of Polish roads. To many people it meant that if the roads had been improved, she would not have had the accident.
At it was, she was speeding and attempting to pass a long line of cars. She swerved left to avoid an oncoming car and careened into a tree. Charges were eventually preferred against her for causing the accident.
The road that she was on was not a road that was to be improved in any way that would have lessened the chances of her having such an accident. But the Polish media never emphasised that. The problem that was emphasised was the condition of Polish roads and their affect on Polish deaths on the road.
Polish drivers are aggressive and do not adjust their driving to the conditions around them. Improved roads mean higher speeds without any increased driving safety awareness.
There is no doubt that Poland needs improved roads. And it is doing a horrible job in improving them. The country cannot even absorb the EU funds available to improve the roads. In fact, Poland currently stands the change of losing 90 million Euros in road subsidies if it does not present invoices. It has used only a small portion of the 270 million Euros allocated in the 2004 Transportation Operational Program.
Unfortunately it is easier for Politicians and the press to blame the roads rather than the people. But it must be done. Road conditions are not going to improve significantly in the near future. The only way to reduce deaths is to start educating the people.
People have to learn that a car is used for transportation rather than to show ones manliness. Until that time more and more people will die needless deaths.
Classified Polnews
If You Did Not Find What You Want Here, Use This Search Box
