Road Safety In Poland Research Articles

PERFORMANCES AND SELF-DECLARED OPINIONS ON HANDHELD MOBILE PHONE USE (DISTRACTION IN TRAFFIC) IN POLAND

This article presents the Motor Transport Institute’s research to set out road safety indicators of behaviors and opinions on one of the increasingly important road traffic problems. Two types of studies on the unsafe use of mobile phones and others on board devices (distraction) by road users in Poland between 2014 and 2023 are presented. Safety Performance Indicators (SPI) on handheld mobile phone use from roadside observations and declared opinions on talking, reading messages, checking social media/news, and listening to headphones while driving, cycling, and walking are presented. Overall, 306,240 passenger car drivers observed on all road types all week long in Poland showed a dropping trend (1.8%) between before the study in 2014 SPI 4.1% distracted drivers to SPI 2.3% after the study in 2022. More drivers used mobile phones on single carriageways both in built-up and outside built-up areas. On motorways outside built-up areas, where vehicles are speeding, drivers of passenger cars rarely talk on their handheld mobiles. Results from the first European Union (EU) Baseline project to collect road indicators produced a Key Performance Indicator of 3.8% distracted passenger car (all types of roads, all weekdays and weekend) from 44,011 observed in Poland in 2021. Results from the EU project E-Survey on Road Users’ Attitude, third edition (ESRA3), showed declared opinions of mobile use while driving, cycling, and walking down the street in Poland in 2023 compared to 2018 (ESRA2). A positive trend is seen among car drivers who declared lower use of handheld mobile phones than in 2018 (a drop of 11.2%). The survey showed Polish cyclist used more often headphones to listen to music, checked news and messages than cyclists in Europe in 2023. More by 10.1% pedestrians in Europe than in Poland declared checking social media/news, reading messages/emailing while walking down the street in 2023. This lower rate in Poland can be explained by pedestrian’s legal prohibition of mobile phone use while crossing the street since 2021. There is strong support for policy measures forbidding all drivers of motorized vehicles to use handheld mobile phone use while driving in all of Europe. Enforcement measures are twice as strong in Europe than in Poland. As the number of accidents and fatalities on distraction is unknown, calculating SPI during roadside observations and questionnaire surveys gives in-depth knowledge of the problem. The authors of the paper represent the Motor Transport Institute’s (MTI’s) research institution, which systematically analyzes trends in road safety in Poland during its own, national, and international projects.

Student Scientific Club in Research for Road Safety

Aim: Presentation of the potential of the student scientific club for road safety in Poland. Discuss the extent to which the student scientific club in its research activities supports and implements the concepts of identifying road safety risks and submits proposals for improving its condition and related processes. Project and methods: In the research on the visibility of vulnerable traffic participants, a theoretical method – NUR threat analysis – was used to define the research problem.A research problem was formulated in the form of a question: to what extent and under what conditions does NUR visibility affect their safety? Visibility tests were conducted in real conditions after dusk. The following recording devices were used to study the movement parameters of modern means of transportation (bicycles and electric scooters): a Gopro camera, a Sony IV RX10 camera (which realizes 4D recording), a drone with a vision camera, and a Brake Tester retarder. Results: The study of the visibility of vulnerable traffic participants from the perspective of the driver presents parameters for the visibility of pedestrians and cyclists in conditions after dusk. Participants (students) in the visibility study were made aware of the issue of visibility, and therefore the safety of the traffic participant in the situation of illuminated vehicle (bicycle) and without lighting, as well as a pedestrian on the road without a reflective element. They formulated the conclusion that seeing does not mean being seen.The result of the single-track motion tests was that the Brake Tester Model LWS -2/MC retarder, after the performance test, does not provide a measurement of the single-track motion parameters. This is an important practical finding from the research, as vehicle inspection stations are equipped with this device. The acceleration and deceleration values of the bicycle and electric scooter were determined Conclusions: The research activities of the students of the scientific club in question not only make them aware of the risk factors of becoming a victim of an accident as a vulnerable traffic participant, but also allow them to deepen their knowledge, broaden their cognitive perspectives and supplement their skills through practical activities, for example, in the area of NUR visibility determinants or the characteristics of powered vehicles. The transfer of the results of the conducted research is carried out through the participation of students in seminars and scientific conferences, as well as in journalistic activities. Keywords: scientific club, vulnerable road user, education

Determinants and effects of Poland’s road accidents in the context of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development – poviat level analysis for the years 2010-2019

The objective of the research was to assess how selected factors influence road safety in Poland’s poviats. To that end, an analysis was conducted of road accident determinants and effects in the poviats in the years 2010-2019. The time horizon fits in with Goal 3.6. of Agenda 2030 which is to halve the number of global deaths and injuries from road traffic accidents by 2020. The article presents the results of the analysis for the following determinants: the rate of car ownership by poviat, poviat spending on transport and length of road network, and quality of road infrastructure. The research problem was to establish which of the poviats are closest to achieving Goal 3.6. of Agenda 2030 and how likely it is, and, as a consequence, which of the poviats should step up their road safety policies to align them to the targets set out in the Agenda. To identify groups of poviats sharing similar characteristics, they were grouped using the k-means method. Five groups of poviats were identified and analysed for how their road safety indicators changed between 2010 and 2019. The results of the analysis show that the highest fatality reduction (-40%) was achieved by urban poviats with the highest per capita spending on transport. The same poviats, however, have the highest increases in serious injuries (+30%). The analyses show that Polish poviats are still far from achieving Goal 3.6 of Agenda 2030. The research results presented in the article are original for the poviat level.

Risk Assessment in Road Transport. Operational Perspective of the Fire Service in Poland

The paper presents a fire service determined picture of road safety in Poland in its operational (non-system and system) dimensions. It focuses on the road risk assessment, using data related to interventions conducted in 2015-2019 by entities of the State Firefighting Rescue System. The database of the Main Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Poland is adopted and 661,775 emergency road interventions are taken into account.The results state general framework for procedures, resource allocation and training for fire services. The framework is determined by the riskiest kinds of events on the Polish roads. It refers to micro scale (in relation to operational procedures, tactics and strategies, allocation of equipment and training programs) and macro scale (regarding to emergency system, central-planned equipment procurements and training framework).

Propozycja metodologii ewaluacji ex post wpływu nowej inwestycji drogowej na stan bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego

The article presents a general description of the state of road safety in Poland in the years 2010-2019, taking into account the safety of pedestrians, who belong to the most vulnerable road users. The analyses were based on data obtained from the Road Traffic Bureau of the General Police Headquarters and the National Road Safety Council. The second part describes a proposition of methodology for ex post evaluation of the impact of a new road projecton road safety, including the necessary research tools. Both the proposed methodology and the presented research tools were verified in practical application during the works on the report “Impact of projects implemented under the III and IV priority axes of the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020 on improvement of road accessibility and traffic load in cities” commissioned by the Centre for European Union Transport Projects.

Analysis of Road Safety in Poland after Accession to the European Union

The article presents an assessment of the state of safety on Polish roads in the period 2004-2018 in terms of changes that occurred after Poland’s accession to the EU. The number of vehicles in the period in question was analyzed and the annual growth of the number of vehicles of the main types was assessed. Analysis of changes in the length of the most important road types was carried out. The number of accidents and fatalities was analyzed and the changes in this area were assessed. The statistical decrease in the number of accidents and fatalities, as well as a very strong correlation between them, were confirmed. It was indicated in which groups of accidents the fatality risk is the highest. The paper presents a summary of the types of roads on which traffic accidents and fatal traffic accidents occurred. Shares of these roads were determined, indicating that the most dangerous roads in Poland are the two-way, two-lane roads.

ESTIMATED ASSESSMENT OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF DRIVERASSISTANCE SYSTEMS USED IN AUTOMATED VEHICLES ON THE LEVEL OF ROAD SAFETY IN POLAND

Strengthening road safety in the face of the enormous development of the automotive in recent decades is crucial. The safety benefits of automated vehicles are paramount. Automated vehicles have the potential to remove human error in road traffic, which will help protect drivers and passengers, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists. The carried-out forecasts are pioneering for Polish road traffic conditions. In England, studies have been carried out to determine the estimated impact of autonomous vehicles on road safety in simulated traffic conditions on the motorway. In Poland, preliminary forecasts of the reduction in the number of road accidents were made; however, they were based on other assumptions. Therefore, estimating the impact of using autonomous vehicles in order to increase the level of road safety is an innovative activity for Polish road conditions. For the purposes of this article, available statistical data on vehicles registered in Poland, their equipment with advanced driver-assistance systems as well as accident data and their causes were analyzed. A diagnosis of Road Safety in Poland in 2018 (base year for further estimations) was made, taking into account the trend of recent years together with an indication of the most common causes of road accidents. These data were compiled with statistical data from other countries about the influence of driversupport systems on traffic safety. Possible potential for increasing Road Safety in Poland by the year 2030 was estimated. The analyses were prepared assuming different types of processes related to traffic, road safety, and the recent development of the passenger car fleet in Poland. Presented results show four scenarios of road safety change, where the number of accidents is reduced with statistical average of 5000 reduction in the year 2030. These expectations are based on various predictable factors connected with upgrade of car fleet quality and take into account changes in road safety observed in recent years. Based on the current trend of driving automation and rapid development of driver-support systems, the provided estimations were found reliable and likely. The conducted research shows the benefits and the need for the use of driver-assistance systems in vehicles as they can measurably affect the level of road safety.

Road safety in Poland Three Years After Limiting the Number of Speed Controls

Road safety is one of the key elements of every citizen’s life. Every day journeys connected with professional and educational activity force us to do a trip, and this leads to inevitable conflicts between road users. One of the basic methods of assessing the state of road safety, and the effects of legal, educational and infrastructural activities of authorities, are the results of road incidents analyses, accidents and collisions, as well as the effects of these activities in previous years. Police databases carried out in most countries on a continuous basis, store records of road incidents in which Police officers intervened. Undoubtedly the speed is one of the most important element affecting the number and consequences of road incidents. High speed reduces the time necessary for the driver to react correctly to the traffic situation. The high speed increases the momentum, and thus the effects of road accidents. Changes in the scope of speed control of vehicles in Poland, including those entitled to do it, introduced 3 years ago, could significantly affect the state of road safety in Poland, on the network of urban and non-urban roads. This paper presents the results of road safety analyses for both nationally and more locally road networks - for the biggest cities in Poland. Based on the analysis of data from the Police’s database records, it has been shown that since the introduction of legal changes, the number of road incidents on the road network has increased significantly. It also indicates unfavourable trends in the area of road safety in cities. Based on the above analyses the need for action to introduce a new program for road safety improvement, especially at the level of urban areas, is indicated.

Road safety in Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Presentation of international research results

The safety of road users is one of the most important elements of the functioning of every society. The data published by the European Commission shows that on roads in the EU in 2017 was 25.3 thousand deaths occuried in road accidents. To reduce the number of road accident victims, threats in this area should be identified and appropriate solutions implemented. The article presents factors in traffic accidents, elements of human mentality which have a significant impact on driving a vehicle, factors influencing a driver’s action in traffic and correlation of the system of safety management including the procedure of risk management. The article presents partial results of international scientific research carried out in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. In the survey participated respondents from ten cities. Opinions were obtained from 642 people on the subject of individual personality factors determine the behaviour of vehicle drivers. Furthermore were presented respondents´ answers regarding legal changes relating to the proposal penalties for drivers participating in road traffic under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The article has been prepared within the frames of realizing a research project called „Simulator supporting police officers’ training in the implementation of activities during a road accident” no. DOB-BIO9/06/01/2018, which has received funding from the Polish National Centre for Research and Development.

Road traffic injuries in Poland: magnitude and risk factors

The article presents the epidemiology of road traffic injuries and fatalities in Poland in the years 2004-2014. In Poland, every fourth death caused by external reasons is the result of a road traffic crash and Poland has one of the highest road fatality rates in relation to vehicle ownership in Europe, with an average 23 deaths per million residents. This rate is two times higher than most other European Union countries. The research is based on a secondary analysis of data contained in multiple Polish governmental reports, including those of the Prevention and Analysis Office of Road Traffic Headquarters of Police, National Road Safety Program-GAMBIT 2005, National Road Safety Program 2013 to 2020, and Strategy for Efficient State in 2020, plus previous publications describing road safety in Poland. Data were analysed in two steps. First, the data were described using means and frequencies, and tabulated according to variables. Second, we considered the time frame (day, month, and year of the occurrence), the place and the circumstances of fatal road crashes, the kind of event, and types of road crashes. Between 2004 and 2014, there were 475,591 traffic crashes on Polish roads. 52,217 people were killed and 597,191 people were injured. Traffic-related injuries represent the leading cause of death for Polish men up to 44years of age. The most common cause of road crashes in Poland was failure to comply with the rules of the road traffic, such as through excessive speeding. We also found drivers poorly assessed road situations, faced a lack of adequate road infrastructure, and maintained many vehicles in poor condition. Despite the variety of measures undertaken to improve safety on Polish roads, including modifications of the law as well as improving road quality, the number of fatalities and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes is still considerable, and the losses incurred by Polish society are still substantial. The number of fatalities and injuries as a result of road crashes in Poland remains very high. Multifaceted action to improve safety on the roads in Poland should continue.

Effects of Police Activities of the Mazovian Police in the Scope of Improving the Security of School Transport

Ensuring road safety is one of the basic statutory tasks set against the Police. Out of concern for the safety of the youngest road users, brought to educational institutions, the policemen of the Masovian Police from October 2017 to the end of June 2018 carried out activities under the name „GIMBUS”. These activities consisted mainly of checking the technical condition of vehicles and the sobriety and working time of drivers. They are an important instrument of actions aimed at improving the state of road safety in Poland, reducing the costs of road accidents and achieving the objectives of European transport policy. This article presents the results of the control activities carried out.

Effect of the Road Environment on Road Safety in Poland

Run-off-road accidents tend to be very severe because when a vehicle leaves the road, it will often crash into a solid obstacle (tree, pole, supports, front wall of a culvert, barrier). A statistical analysis of the data shows that Poland’s main roadside hazard is trees and the severity of vehicles striking a tree in a run-off-road crash. The risks are particularly high in north-west Poland with many of the roads lined up with trees. Because of the existing rural road cross-sections, i.e. having trees directly on road edge followed immediately by drainage ditches, vulnerable road users are prevented from using shoulders and made to use the roadway. With no legal definition of the road safety zone in Polish regulations, attempts to remove roadside trees lead to major conflicts with environmental stakeholders. This is why a compromise should be sought between the safety of road users and protection of the natural environment and the aesthetics of the road experience. Rather than just cut the trees, other road safety measures should be used where possible to treat the hazardous spots by securing trees and obstacles and through speed management. Accidents that are directly related to the road environment fall into the following categories: hitting a tree, hitting a barrier, hitting a utility pole or sign, vehicle rollover on the shoulder, vehicle rollover on slopes or in ditch. The main consequence of a roadside hazard is not the likelihood of an accident itself but of its severity. Poland’s roadside accident severity is primarily the result of poor design or operation of road infrastructure. This comes as a consequence of a lack of regulations or poorly defined regulations and failure to comply with road safety standards. The new analytical model was designed as a combination of the different factors and one that will serve as a comprehensive model. It was assumed that it will describe the effect of the roadside on the number of accidents and their consequences. The design of the model was based on recommendations from analysing other models. The assumptions were the following: the model will be used to calculate risk factors and accident severity, the indicators will depend on number of vehicle kilometres travelled or traffic volumes, analyses will be based on accident data: striking a tree, hitting a barrier, hitting a utility pole or sign. Additional data will include roadside information and casualty density measures will be used – killed and injured.

Rola Inspekcji Transportu Drogowego w ograniczeniu wypadków w ruchu drogowym w Polsce

W 2001 r. powołano jednostkę Inspekcji Transportu Drogowego (ITD), której celem jest zwiększenie bezpieczeństwa w ruchu drogowym. Celem artykułu jest odpowiedź na pytanie, na ile powołanie ITD przyczynia się do polepszenia bezpieczeństwa ruchu drogowego w Polsce. W artykule oprócz naświetlenia celów ITD, organizacji skali wypadków z udziałem ciężarowych pojazdów samochodowych, omawiamy stan ilościowy przeprowadzonych kontroli. Obserwacją obejmujemy lata 2005–2012. Artykuł pokazuje, że dzięki ostrym decyzjom administracyjnym i karnym stopniowo zmniejsza się liczba wypadków i ich skutków z udziałem ciężarowych pojazdów samochodowych.

Conditions and capacity for implementing Poland’s vision zero

Since 1991 Poland has been systematically reducing its traffic hazard. Despite considerable progress Poland is still among the most dangerous countries in the European Union. The key types of actions that help to reduce fatalities include enhancement of pedestrian safety, reducing the number of speeding drivers and eliminating or reducing hazard on the road. The paper presents a brief diagnosis of the state of road safety in Poland and a synthetic evaluation of the implementation of further national road safety programmes. It proposes measures necessary for achieving Vision Zero until 2050 (adopted by the EU) and an assessment of their effectiveness.

The essence of road safety in Poland. Recognition of theoretical and empirical

This article consists of two parts. The first part is based on the theoretical analysis of the concept of safety and prevention measures in road traffic, described in the existing literature and statistics. Whereas the second part focuses on the analysis of vehicle insurance as a financial instrument of economic safety of road traffic participants. In the 21st century, one of very important problems, not only socially but also economically, referring to Poland and other EU countries is the ongoing development of motorisation and, consequently, the progress in transportation. Unfortunately, this development sometimes leads to the growing number of road accidents and their effects.

Statistical analysis of road safety in Poland with application of taxonomic methods

The road safety is an area of public security, which is a basic need of every human being. One of the sources of the threats are road traffic offenses related in violation of safety rules. The aim of the article is to analyze road safety throughout the country and in individual provinces. In the study were used spatial and time data included in e.g. in the Regional Bank Data in the years 2001-2014 and the Police research papers available on the Internet. The statistical analysis and application of the Hellwig's taxonomic measure of development allowed the characterization of road traffic offenses in Poland and to identification of regions with the highest level of road safety. It turned out, that despite the presence of a number of negative factors increasing the risk of accidents, the security situation on Polish roads improves. The number of accidents and their victims decreases. Particularly positive changes on Polish roads were noted after the Polish accession to the European Union.

Road safety in Poland in the years 1998-2011

Road safety in Poland in the years 1998-2011

ROAD SAFETY IN POLAND (OUTLINE OF ISSUES)

This article outlines the issues of road safety in Poland. It presents, in terms of definitions and typology, traffic crimes and offences as well as the elements of safety hazards on the road. The article is complemented by the analysis of the safety situation on Polish roads on the basis of up-to-date data from police statistics.