Lowering the minimum age limit for obtaining a category B driving license is one of the proposals of the Ministry of Infrastructure. A 17-year-old could obtain a driving license only under the supervision of an experienced driver.
Work on changes to road safety regulations was discussed at the Thursday meeting of the standing subcommittee for road transport, road engineering and road safety.
Last year, there were almost 21,000 cases in Poland. road accidentsin which 1,893 people died, 24,125 people were injured, and 7,595 people were seriously injured – according to the government report on the state of road safety. In terms of the number of road accidents per million inhabitants, Poland ranks 20th among the European Union, with a rate of 52 road accident fatalities per million inhabitants. For comparison, the EU average was 46 deaths per million inhabitants.
Changes in regulations for drivers. Proposals of the Ministry of Interior and Administration
Deputy Head of the Ministry of Interior and Administration (Ministry of Interior and Administration) Czesław Mroczek, presenting the ministry's proposals, noted that one of them is to extend the temporary administrative suspension of driving licenses for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h also outside built-up areas on single-lane, two-way roads.
Another proposal is to return to more restrictive rules regarding penalty points. The idea is to prevent penalty points from being written off in the case of the most serious offenses thanks to training. The Ministry of Interior and Administration also wants to consider restoring the two-year period after which the removal of points would be possible.
– A very serious change concerns the penalization of acts related to organizing and participating in illegal races. We propose that this should become a crime. We also want to penalize reckless driving, i.e. drifting and riding a motorcycle on one wheel, said Mroczek.
Proposals of the Ministry of Infrastructure
The Ministry of Infrastructure has also prepared a package of proposals for changes. He wants greater penalization of drivers driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as well as drivers who drive despite a revoked driving license or a driving ban issued by a court.
– We propose that this should be punishable by absolute imprisonment – said the deputy head of MI, StanisÅ‚aw Bukowiec.
He noted that the ministry wants to introduce a trial period for drivers who obtained a category B driving license for the first time, including minor holders of a driving license in this category.
– We propose that during the trial period, the vehicle driver must not consume alcohol or substances acting similarly to alcohol, exceed the speed of 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 100 km/h on motorways and dual carriageway expressways, and also transport people by taxi or as part of occasional transport – said Bukowiec.
The Ministry wants to introduce sanctions for driving without a license during the period of three-month withdrawal of the driving license for five years instead of extending the period of its application by another three months.
The proposals also include adding new grounds for revoking driving privileges. This would exceed the number of 20 points received for violating road traffic regulations, as well as a finding of driving in violation of the requirements specified for an underage driver.
The ministry also proposes to increase the efficiency and collection of fines imposed by road transport inspection. Bukowiec noted that the ministry has not only sanction proposals, but also those that are intended to influence the safety of especially young road users.
Driving license from the age of seventeen. Proposed changes
– We propose to restore the possibility of issuing a category B driving license to persons who are 17 years old and have obtained the written consent of their parents or guardians, provided that such an underage driver will use these rights only in the company of an adult, experienced driver supervising the driving from the passenger seat – he said.
Director of the Road Transport Department, Renata Rychter, emphasized that in the case of the proposal to lower the minimum age limit for obtaining a driving license, the ministry followed the example of other EU member states.
– This is a solution that works in other countries, such as: Germany, DenmarkNetherlands, France, Hungary, Italyall of Scandinavia, i.e. countries that have a high level of driving culture and a high level of road safety – she said.
Rychter clarified that the person accompanying the young driver will have to be at least 24 years old. In addition, a minimum of five years of experience in holding a category B driving license will not be allowed to have the license suspended during these five years and must be fully sober each time.
Category B driving license is currently only available to people over 18 years of age. However, you can sign up for the course three months before your birthday.
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