In recognition of its remarkable progress in reducing road fatalities, Poland has been honoured with the 2023 Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Award, Europe’s most significant road safety award.
Poland has been honoured with the prestigious 2023 Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) Award by the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) for the very first time. The country has made remarkable progress in reducing road fatalities, achieving a 47% decline between 2012 and 2022. This impressive rate of improvement was surpassed only by Lithuania, the previous year’s recipient. The average reduction across the European Union (EU) was 22%.
The ETSC’s announcement coincides with the release of a new analysis indicating a 4% increase in road deaths within the European Union (EU) last year, reaching a total of 20,679 fatalities. Despite this rise, the number still remains 9% lower compared to 2019, the year preceding the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on traffic volumes. However, the ETSC warns that a decrease of 17.2% since 2019 would have been necessary to remain on track towards achieving the EU and UN target of halving the number of road deaths by 2030.
Last year, Poland’s road mortality rate, which measures the number of road deaths per million inhabitants, stood at 50 per million. This figure marks a significant decrease from the 93 per million recorded in 2012. Notably, Poland’s road mortality rate was even better than that of Italy, which reported 54 road deaths per million inhabitants in 2022. When considering road safety across Europe, Norway emerged with the safest roads, reporting a road mortality rate of 21 per million, followed closely by Sweden with 22 per million.
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The decision to award this year’s prize to Poland by the ETSC panel of experts takes into account several significant factors, in addition to the notable reduction in road fatalities. These elements include Poland’s comprehensive National Road Safety Programme 2021-2030, which sets ambitious targets for a 50% reduction in both deaths and serious injuries. Moreover, the country has implemented a large-scale four-year Safe Road Infrastructure Programme, expanded the network of speed cameras and time-over-distance cameras, increased drink-driving enforcement checks by an average of 19% annually between 2010 and 2019, and introduced the „emergency corridor” system that enables emergency vehicles to swiftly access collision sites on motorways.
These initiatives showcase Poland’s holistic approach to road safety, demonstrating a commitment to multifaceted strategies aimed at protecting lives and preventing accidents. By implementing comprehensive measures and addressing various aspects of road safety, Poland has positioned itself as a deserving recipient of the ETSC’s recognition.
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“In ten years, Poland has greatly improved road safety and set an example on how to take the issue seriously. There has been a genuine commitment to setting targets, improving infrastructure and boosting enforcement, all key factors in this impressive reduction.” – said Antonio Avenoso, Executive Director of the European Transport Safety Council.
While recognising the progress made in adjusting speed limits, the ETSC emphasises the importance of further measures to enhance road safety, particularly in areas where vulnerable road users are present. Implementing lower speed limits on roads frequented by pedestrians and cyclists in urban areas can significantly contribute to reducing the risk of accidents and the severity of potential injuries.
According to the ETSC, speed limits and observed vehicle speeds in Poland remain excessively high. The country’s maximum speed limit of 140 km/h on motorways is one of the highest in the European Union (EU), second only to Germany. The ETSC has acknowledged the positive step taken by Poland in eliminating higher night-time speed limits in urban areas and replacing them with a permanent 50 km/h limit in 2021. However, the ETSC suggests that Poland should further contemplate implementing speed limits of 30 km/h on roads utilised by pedestrians and cyclists within urban areas.
Author: Patrycja Bodzek-Kurzyńska
Photo: Pixabay
