The number of road fatalities, including those of pedestrians, is falling. Invariably, drivers are the perpetrators of the overwhelming number of accidents. When hearing about "bicycle terrorists" and complaints about urban activists, it is worth remembering who is really responsible for the lack of safety on Polish roads.
In discussions about changes introduced in the space of Polish cities, traffic calming or facilitating pedestrians and cyclists, one often hears comments from car drivers. They accuse socialists of terrorizing the majority of road users, taking away their due space and causing traffic jams. However, the situation is quite different - it is the drivers who make roads in cities unsafe, and it is they who disproportionately dispose of a large part of public space. The designation of bicycle lanes or wider sidewalks does not come at the "expense" of roads. It is the roadways that have been built over the years at the expense of the safety of all of us. Polish cities must intensify traffic-calming measures not only because of the climate crisis, but also because of the safety of their residents.
pandemic effect
Last year, Warsaw recorded the lowest number of pedestrian fatalities since measurements began. The number of pedestrian hit-and-runs, which had dropped significantly with the onset of the pandemic, remained at a lower level, despite the loosening of covidien restrictions. The year 2021 was atypical in terms of accident statistics, no less than the previous year. The effects of recovering from the pandemic were compounded by, among other things, changes in regulations that increased protection for pedestrians in lanes. So it turns out that, contrary to the opinions of skeptics, rallying the fiasco of the legislative changes being introduced - greater restrictions and penalties for drivers are having a good effect on other traffic participants. The year 2020 was a time of pandemonium and lockdown. Thanks to remote work, the number of accidents fell by approx. 30 percent. 2021 is still pandemic, but definitely less translated into traffic. We're back on the streets, but accident statistics remain at reduced levels.
vision zero?
In 2021, 19 pedestrians were killed on Warsaw's streets . And while last year's result is the lowest since measurements have been conducted, it's still 19 victims too many. The question is whether the city will succeed in achieving Vision Zero (no casualties on the roads)? New pedestrian facilities and improved road safety in the city center are a step towards this, but at the same time Warsaw is investing in investments in the interest of ignoring pedestrians. The scale of offenses could also be reduced bythorough enforcement - many people complain of too much sluggishness on the part of the municipal police, among others.
drivers still kill
From the analysis of officials, it is clear that if a pedestrian behaves dangerously on the street, he is mainly a danger to himself. If a car driver behaves dangerously, he is a danger to everyone around him. That's why it's changing the behavior of car drivers that's key to making us all feel safer. Of the 700 traffic accidents in the capital in 2021, pedestrians caused only 44, while car drivers caused as many as 483. The share of bicycles is also small in this statistic.
The full Warsaw Road Safety Report 2021 is available on the ZDM website.
