Warsaw Poland Traffic Mismanagement Continues
Classified Polnews
Driving in Poland's capital city, Warsaw, is slow and tedious due to a unique combination of a large number of cars and trucks and mismanagement of traffic flow by the Polish authorities. The Polish Government agencies responsible for controlling traffic flow have not been able to fix obvious problems for years.
Poland
One such problem that has caused traffic tieups on a Al. Jerozolimskie, a major commuter artery into Warsaw, was discussed in a previous article that you find at this link. Poor Polish Road Management
Within a couple weeks of the publication of that article the amateur truck trap that was discussed was replaced with a professionally designed one. The picture below shows the approach to that truck trap. Click on the picture to see a larger view.
The approach is to a tunnel that will accommodate a truck with a maximum height of 3 m. Trucks that exceed that height are expected to move one lane to the right and take a short bypass around the tunnel.
But as you can see in the picture there's not much notice all that indicates that there is a height restriction for the tunnel ahead.
In this next picture you see the actual warning that is obvious to the truck driver. Once again click to see a larger view.
But notice where it is. It is not where a truck driver has time to react and turn. It is inside the guardrail that direct traffic to the tunnel.
Once a truck hits those panels it is well into the entrance to the tunnel and in order to extricate itself it must back into oncoming traffic.
Note that there is a yellow and black panel on the right hand side that is suspended by a chain. There is also panel on the left side but note that it has been hit by a truck and now hangs atop the support bar.
This is the common state of affairs. The warning system simply does not work.
Trucks do not notice any warning signs prior to them hitting the panels.
They hit the panels and stop. They block the entrance to the tunnel and cause a traffic jam.
It is not possible for them to turn right after hitting the panels to get to the bypass route. They must back into oncoming traffic that wants to get into the tunnel.
Many times, especially during the commute hours, there is a line of traffic behind the trucks and is also has no place to turn. A more dangerous situation is created as cars attempt to back into oncoming traffic to allow the truck to back.
The obvious solution to the problem is to place the panels well before the truck is between the guard rails so that when it hits the panels it has the ability to stop, reassess the situation and turn right to the bypass route.
And maybe not so obvious to the Warsaw traffic experts is that they might create a better warning system so the trucks do not hit the panels at all.
It is almost four years that a problem at this tunnel has existed and has been causing problems. How long this problem will continue the exists is anyone's guess
