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ROADPOL Newsletter Extra Edition May 2020

ROADPOL Newsletter Extra Edition May 2020

23 February 2024  | www.roadpol.eu

Welcome to the Extra Edition Newsletter

 

Due to the current developments of the traffic situation in Europe combined with the restrictions of COVID-19 we have decided to publish an Extra Newsletter

 

Yours Sincerely

Heinz Albert Stumpen

ROADPOL General Secretary

During lockdown due to Covid-19 many European countries were and still are facing new situation on their roads, less traffic but not necessary more road safety therefore.

 

Countries reported better road safety situation in general, but speeding offences increased, from the beginning of the year. That kind of road safety is noticed in Finland, Switzerland, Croatia, Poland, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, Estonia, Turkey, Austria, Spain, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Lithuania, Serbia so basically across the whole Europe.  Only Italy and Hungary reported on decreased number of speeding offences, which is in direct connection to strict measures of lockdown implemented on their territory.

 

Traffic controls and enforcement was interrupted by Covid-19 and police forces were redirect on duties regarding fight against Corona virus crisis. 

 

A lot of countries reported about wild drivers who use the roads as they are on the race tracks, speeding extensively above limits, thinking in rare traffic is not dangerous to press gas pedal much further than it’s allowed. No need to obey speed limits, during Covid-19 pandemic, is how those drivers think!

 

 

      (speeding in outside built-up areas, source:

           Hungarian National Police)

 

         

Interesting facts from some ROADPOL countries:

 

GERMANY

• 140 km/h instead of 50 km/h in urban regions, more than 100 km/h faster than allowed on highways;

• A driver of a Ferrari made a video of himself, driving 372 km/h on the motorway. The clip shows him thundering over the A7 at 372 km/h. With one hand he holds the wheel, with the other he films everything with his mobile phone. And the network community celebrates him for it! It looks like a Formula 1 racing. Fortunately no accident happened. As there was no speed limit at the location, he is only prosecuted for illegal use of his mobile phone while driving.

The ignorance of these drivers is incomprehensible, as the emergency services in many countries are unduly busy with the care of corona patients and others who are seriously ill.

      (speed check in Slovenia, source: Slovenian Police)

SLOVENIA Generally good road safety situation, but problems with speeding. Slovenia made decision to increase enforcement, so on 20th and 21st of May they did 12 hours speed marathon.

CROATIA

In Croatia police had recorded in period from 24th April till 14th May, 17 fatal accidents in which 18 people were killed (most of them caused by speeding). That could be seen in statistics as well, where 52,9% killed persons in traffic accidents were killed because of speeding (report for four month of 2020).

 

SERBIA

From 1st January till 15th March, which is the date of declaring emergency situation in Serbia (lockdown), speeding was increased by 21%.

POLAND

Police reminds drivers that there are SPEED police teams operating in Poland, whose main task is to counteract dangerous road behaviours, including ignoring speed limits. To enforced speed limits police officers using the latest vehicles equipped with video recorders, and also measure speed with manual speed meters with visualization. In the interests of road safety, police call for

        (campaign against speeding, source: National

         Police Headquarters in Poland Road Traffic Bureau)

prudence and compliance with traffic rules. They also remind you to adapt your speed to road conditions. Company Screen Network S.A. was involved in promoting road safety in Poland. From 8 to 12 May 2020, on its screens located in the country, road safety spot were reminding drivers to comply with speed limits will be displayed. Slow down and live!!!

What can we do?

We have to raise awareness that empty streets are not invitation for reckless and dangerous speeding!

Among other, motorcycle drivers are especially outlined, many countries reported about fatal accident of motorcycle drivers and their passenger, due to speeding. Lockdown had psychological impact on some drivers, making of them people without fear, ready to challenge their limits and lost conscious about risk in which they put themselves and other road users. Especially young, not enough experienced drivers were affected with this kind of behavior.

 

 

 

Author: ROADPOL Media

 

         (effect of speeding/sciene investigation photo,

            source: Hungarian National Police)

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