Bumper riding or crazy speed. The scale of aggression on Polish roads is growing

In a few days, the holidays begin, which is statistically the most dangerous time on the roads. Among the main causes of such incidents on straight sections of the road are excessive speed and bumper-to-bumper driving. The administrator of the A4 Katowice-Kraków motorway, as part of the campaign "Don't bump. Listen. Drive safely", draws attention to the phenomenon of aggression on Polish roads and reminds that safety begins with the driver's personal decisions.

Police data for 2024 indicate that in over 21.5 thousand accidents, nearly 1.9 thousand people died and 24.7 thousand people were injured. Most accidents occur in the summer months, in June and August, and the worst day on the roads is Friday.

- On motorways, over 90 percent of accidents are caused by drivers. We ensure road safety by providing the right infrastructure, but the problem really lies in the drivers' heads and behaviors - emphasizes Andrzej Kaczmarek, president of the management board of Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska, in an interview with the Newseria agency.

Failure to maintain a safe distance between vehicles on expressways is still one of the most common causes of road incidents and accidents. Police data for 2024 show that bumper-to-bumper driving and improper overtaking were responsible for nearly 1.7 thousand accidents on straight road sections. They were also the cause of every fourth accident on the motorway. In total, failure to maintain a safe distance between vehicles was the cause of over 1.5 thousand road collisions. Very often, drivers who break the rules put pressure on those driving legally to move into the adjacent lane.

- Driving on bumper is a game of seconds, a game with time, which we as drivers probably do not understand. We feel untouchable and I think that many drivers cannot imagine how short the potential reaction time is, how quickly an incident can occur, over which we have no influence - explains Andrzej Kaczmarek.

GDDKiA points out that bumper-to-bumper driving is an extremely risky practice that can contribute to a vehicle collision. In an emergency situation that requires immediate action, the driver has no chance of reacting quickly. Sudden braking of the vehicle in front forces those behind to brake suddenly, which often leads to a pileup, often tragic in its consequences and blocking the route for many hours. Failure to maintain an appropriate distance significantly limits the field of vision, making it impossible to identify an obstacle in front of the vehicle in front. An amendment to the Road Traffic Law has been in force since June 1, 2021, which regulates, among other things, the issue of maintaining a safe distance between vehicles on motorways and expressways.

- According to experts who assess the safe distance between vehicles moving on the route, it is half the speed we are driving at, expressed in meters, i.e. for a motorway at 140 km per hour it is 70 m distance - explains the president of Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska. - For many people, this distance is too large perceptually and we tend to shorten it. This is a mistake that is often the subject of enforcement, but we should really stick to this rule, because it is about our safety.

GDDKiA reminds us that in order to assess the correct distance from the vehicle in front, we can use any stationary object in the road surroundings - a picket post, a lamppost or a road sign, next to which the vehicle in front of us is located. If we pass the selected object 2 seconds later, such a distance will be in accordance with the regulations. At a speed of 80 km/h, in a second we will cover just over 22 m, at 100 km/h almost 28 m, at 120 km/h just over 33 m, and at 140 km/h almost 40 m. Maintaining a two-second distance will provide a distance of 44, 56, 66 and 80 m, respectively, so slightly greater than required by the regulations.

- In bumper-to-bumper driving, there is of course a question of reflex, but also a question of emotions. As drivers, we often emotionally approach the fact that someone forces the right of way on us, blinks, honks, blocks our way. We have to explain to ourselves to treat such an event in a calm, balanced way and not to succumb to unnecessary emotions, because this is a direct path to an accident - emphasizes Andrzej Kaczmarek.

A UK study found that 71% of drivers lost concentration due to stress or irritation while driving, which increases the risk of aggressive behaviour such as speeding, sudden lane changes and cornering.

Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska, as part of the campaign "Don't bump. Listen. Drive safely", draws attention to the phenomenon of aggression on Polish roads. At the same time, it reminds us of three important rules that are worth following on the road - maintaining a distance of 2 seconds from the vehicle in front, adjusting the distance to weather conditions and cooperating with other drivers, e.g. by signaling intentions or allowing a change of lane.

- We want to talk, show and explain, hoping that when such a road situation occurs, drivers will reflect on whether they really need to react emotionally because someone passed them, because someone honked at them, and whether it really makes sense to drive very close to a vehicle, exposing themselves to the behavior of the person in front of us - indicates the president of Stalexport Autostrada Małopolska.

The campaign includes a series of podcasts co-created with Radio 357. The journalists will invite listeners to create episodes and share stories about situations that not only spoil the mood but also threaten road safety. The social campaign will last from the last day of the school year (June 27) to the last day of the holidays (August 31).

- It's about raising awareness, showing the dangers, also through fun, through discussion, so that maybe one day the driver will correct his behavior. It's a matter of showing the problems and dangers associated with it - emphasizes Andrzej Kaczmarek.

Source: