10 FEB - Traffic offences rose dramatically in 2020, Finland's National Police Board statistics show.
Cases of driving while intoxicated increased by 10%. PHOTO: SOUTHWESTERN FINLAND POLICE DEPARTMENTA total of 131,247 violations were registered, an increase by about 20 per cent compared to the previous year. The numbers are exceptional since traffic volumes declined significantly due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
11 FEB - A huge illegal racing gathering was knocked down by road police units in Plovdiv, media in Bulgaria reported.
The Police was called to the scene by residents outraged by the noise. PHOTO: MVR.BGThe party of more than 100 drivers, snow drift enthusiasts, street racing devotees and just spectators had amassed at a shopping center parking in town.
3 FEB 2021 - A mobile application notifies users when approaching pedestrian crossing, Poland's Katowice Provincial Police Headquarters press service reported.
Lots of pedestrian crossing fatalities are due to distraction from phone use. PHOTO: POLICIJA.PL
The app called Stop-fon targets pedestrian distraction when using smartphone around traffic. It was invented by students and teachers of School Complex No. 6 in the town of Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Silesian Voivodeship. Stop-fon runs in background and freezes smartphone screen if it finds it lit around a pedestrian crossing. User is then immediately targeted by a display alert saying „Look Around and Live”. Device will additionally sound and vibrate. Stop-fon is activated by a sensor in the „Pedestrian Crossing” road sign.
8 FEB - Extra surveillance cameras are being installed on the continent due to Brexit, ROADPOL media found out.
The fact is one of many concerning road safety and road transport in the European Union after the Brexit deal signing at end of 2020. Its provisional entry into force has already brought its first effects on the work of Road Police forces especially in border countries such as the Netherlands and Belgium.
The Netherlands are the first to feel the effects of Brexit through their ANPR system. PHOTO: POLITIE.NL
“The effects of Brexit on Road Transport and Road Safety in the Netherlands are barely visible on the roads as of now”, says Paul Broer, national project leader on road and traffic policing with the Netherlands Police and his country's representative at ROADPOL Council. Still a number of precautionary measures has been taken.
Police officers are seen during the campaign in the Netherlands, 8 December 2020. PHOTO: POLITIE.NL
12 JAN 2020 – 6.218 drunk drivers were caught by police officers in a ROADPOL pan-European campaign aimed at driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Additional 1.509 drivers were found to be driving after having taken different kinds of illicit drugs, the European Roads Policing Network reported. Throughout the campaign lasting from 7 to 13 December 2020 about 500.000 motorists were checked across 13 ROADPOL member states. The numbers are allegedly impressive considering that a lot of member police forces could not take part in the campaign due to COVID-19 emergency measures. The percentage of drunk/stoned drivers was the highest in Norway at 7%. Taken over all participating countries, the occurence was 2%.