Szczeciński MP PiS, Artur Szalatawka, has an thought to increase safety on Polish roads. A politician would like the pedestrians to halt and rise their hand to make certain that the driver sees them and then enter the lanes.
In an interview addressed to the Minister of Infrastructure, Szalatawka argues that the changes introduced in June 2021, which gave pedestrian precedence to vehicles, request correction. In his opinion, the current government does not deliver the expected safety results.
The pedestrians approaching the pedestrian crossing should halt at the edge of the roadway, rise their hand to the top signaling the intention of crossing the roadway and – after making certain that they are seen and vehicles stopping, give him precedence – pass through the roadway – he wrote in the interview.
The MP besides suggested that we return note besides that this proposal will importantly affect the enforcement of the provision on mobile telephone calls erstwhile crossing the roadway. Lifting your hand and making certain the pedestrians are spotted requires focus on crossing the road, not on a telephone conversation.
Walking rights on belts
Since 1 June 2021, after the amendment of the Traffic Law Act, pedestrians on and entering the pedestrian crossing have precedence over the vehicle (except for the tram). Pursuant to Article 13(1) of the Act, in both cases, pedestrians are required to take peculiar care, which means expanding attention and adjusting behaviour to changing road conditions in order to be able to respond quickly. On the another hand, Article 14 prohibits him from entering straight in front of an oncoming vehicle, slowing down a step or stopping without a legitimate need, and moving through a roadway. On the another hand, the driver of the vehicle is obliged to quit precedence to the pedestrian on or on the crossing.
ambiguity of statistics
And indeed, erstwhile walking through a pedestrian crossing, he cannot usage his telephone or another electronic devices in specified a way that he cannot observe the situation. Sadly, specified behaviour can sometimes be seen in the streets, but is that adequate reason to make life hard for all liable pedestrians?
It is hard to answer that question unequivocally. It turns out that in Poland the number of accidents involving pedestrians on the lanes increased – last year the number of deductions was 2684, or 221 more compared to 2022. Despite this, dogs little frequently lost their lives, both on belts and outside. A full of 457 pedestrians died, which means a drop of three. 132 people died in pedestrian crossings, a decrease of 13 compared to the erstwhile year.
