President Karol Nawrocki signed an act to improve road traffic safety. It is intended to help fight dangerous and drunk drivers as well as illegal car races and rallies on public roads. In short, it is intended to increase the effectiveness of combating traffic offenses and crimes, especially those committed in the context of recidivism. The new regulations also introduce new obligations for scooter drivers and facilities for 17-year-olds who want to get a driving license. As a rule, the new regulations will enter into force three months after publication in the Journal of Laws.
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Severe penalties for drinking and driving
According to the act, if a driver has between 0.5 and 1.5 per mille of alcohol in his blood or is subject to a driving ban, the court will be able to decide on the forfeiture of the vehicle. If the alcohol concentration exceeds 1.5 per mille, the court will be obliged to order forfeiture, except for justified special circumstances.
The court does not order the forfeiture of a car if, at the time of committing the crime, the vehicle was not the exclusive property of the perpetrator or the forfeiture of the motor vehicle is not possible or advisable (in particular due to its sale or loss by the perpetrator, destruction or significant damage). In such a situation, however, he will be able to award compensation to the State Treasury in the amount of PLN 5,000. up to 500 thousand zloty.
Prison for road pirates
The Act also significantly tightens the liability of persons blocking or obstructing traffic on a public road. The previous fine (up to PLN 500) was replaced by restriction of liberty or a fine of up to PLN 5,000. zloty. This means a tenfold increase in the upper limit of sanctions.
The new law also assumes the withdrawal of a driving license for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km per hour. on a single-lane, two-way road outside the built-up area.
Above all for speeding at half the speed limit on a highway or expressway i knowingly creating a threat to others will result in imprisonment from three months to five years
The court will be able to impose a prison sentence when the driver – in total:
- is driving at grossly excessive speed, e.g. over 200 km per hour on the expressway when MP Mejza was driving;
- breaks other road traffic rules (e.g. runs red lights, overtakes on crosswalks, ignores signs, changes lanes frequently),
- directly exposes another person to loss of life or health.
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Illegal racing with heavy fines
The act also defines an illegal race. It is a competition between at least two drivers who want to cover a specific section of road in the shortest possible time and in violation of road safety rules. Organizing or participating in illegal races will be punishable by imprisonment from three months to five years. As the authors of the project emphasize, this type of events are becoming more and more burdensome and negatively affect the sense of safety among drivers and pedestrians.
The new regulations assume that organizers of meetings or rallies of vehicle enthusiasts, especially to present modifications, will have to report such a meeting to the municipality. The rally will therefore be treated similarly to a public meeting.
In addition, the act adds a new offense: blocking or obstructing traffic on a public road by a person taking part in an unreported motor rally. Anyone who commits a crime must additionally pay a fine of up to PLN 1,500. For causing an accident during an illegal race, the court may impose a driving ban.
Drift is also to be punished, i.e. “intentionally causing the vehicle to skid or causing it to lose contact with the road surface, at least of one of the vehicle's wheels, performed during a public meeting, without the required permit.” The regulation will also cover motorcyclists who ride on one wheel.
Read also: The Parliament tightens the rules for drunk drivers. Up to 500 thousand PLN compensation
A helmet is required on a scooter
According to the new act, drivers of a bicycle, motorized bicycle, electric scooter or personal transport device who are under 16 years of age will have to wear a helmet while riding. The obligation will also apply to persons under the care of a parent or legal guardian.
Children transported in a safety seat or on a bicycle intended for transporting people, factory-equipped with seat belts and whose design does not allow the use of a helmet are exempt from the obligation to wear a helmet.
The new regulations increase the age at which a child can legally ride an electric scooter on a public road to 13.
17-year-old with a driving license
The new regulations restore the possibility of issuing a category B driving license to persons who are over 17 years old and have obtained the written consent of their parents or guardians.
For the first six months or until the age of 18, the so-called a young driver will have to drive under the supervision of a person at least 25 years old with at least 5 years of experience behind the wheel and will be able to drive only in Poland.
