During the winter break this year, police stopped 8,830 drunk drivers. It’s 15 percent. over a year ago. From January 16 to February 26, an average of 210 cases of driving while intoxicated were recorded daily.
For 41 days of holidays, law enforcement agencies registered 1676 accidents, in which 143 people died, 1881 people were injured. All these statistics have decreased compared to the winter holidays of 2022. Unfortunately, there were 8,830 drunk drivers on the roads, 1,119 more than last year. Compared to the holidays in 2021, this is an increase of as much as 43 percent, when 6,157 people were arrested for drunk driving.
According to the police, this year the situation was the worst during the last period of the winter holidays (February 13-26). Then 3113 drunk drivers were detained. Pupils of the Lower Silesia, Mazovia, Opole and West Pomeranian voivodeships at that time had a break in school.
The largest number of arrests - 297 - occurred on January 16, the first day of the winter holidays. Services reports show that, like all of 2022, weekends and Mondays were the worst for drunk drivers. From February 11 to 13 (Saturday-Monday), police officers recorded a record 846 cases of double driving on gas.
Will 2023 be a record year for drunk drivers?
In total, since January 1, 2023, 12,990 people have been detained (7,076 in January and 5,914 in February), whose blood alcohol content exceeded 0.2 ppm. For the same period last year, there were 2041 less of them.
The specialist also warns against unconscious intoxication
Unconscious drunkenness turns out to be a big problem. This is a condition in which it seems that the body has already managed to cope with previously drunk alcohol. A false impression of sobriety is extremely dangerous for the person driving the car, its passengers, as well as for all other road users. That’s why it’s good to arm yourself with a good quality personal breathalyzer and test yourself every time you’re not sure if you should go on tour - says Hunter Abbott, road safety expert at AlcoSense.
Stricter penalties for drunk drivers
Driving under the influence of alcohol (from 0.2 to 0.5 ppm of alcohol in the blood) is punishable by a fine of at least PLN 2,500. Over 0.5 ppm, drivers can pay from 5 thousand. up to PLN 60 thousand. In both cases, you also receive 15 penalty points, the maximum possible for one infraction.
From December 13, 2023, the cars of drivers whose blood alcohol level exceeds 1.5 ppm will be confiscated. The car will also be deprived of those who arrange an accident while intoxicated (above 0.5 ppm) and in case of relapse.
Source: Wprost
I am Jason Root. I work in the news website industry and mostly cover the automobile industry. I have also written for Daily News Hack. My work revolves around new car models, prices, and features. In addition, I often write about used cars and tips for buying them. My articles are meant to be helpful for those who are in the market for a new or used car.
