Since the beginning of July, there has been a ban on overtaking for trucks on expressways. The new regulations were supposed to improve the flow of roads, while the problem of “elephant races” does not disappear, which is confirmed by a special control of the Silesian police.
Traffic on highways was supposed to be smoother, the left lane was supposed to be faster, but in many places it is as it was. Despite the changes in the law, many truck drivers have not noticed that from July 1, trucks cannot overtake on two-lane highways and expressways.
– The scale of this offense, these incorrect behaviors, throughout the country is quite large – says com. Tomasz Bratek from the Road Traffic Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Katowice.
In just one day, the Silesian police detained over 40 truck drivers who drove as if the new regulations did not apply to them. Why is it like that? Truck drivers say straight: they don’t like the new regulations.
See also: No more “elephant races” on Polish roads
– This is discrimination against trucks – believes one of the drivers. – Everyone is running out of time. We use tachographs and every minute is important for us to get to the unloading point. If we are even five minutes late, we stay until the next day – explains another driver.
Restrictions on overtaking by trucks came into force. The police say they will keep an eye on itJan Błaszkowski/Fakty TVN
More police checks
The introduction of new regulations was to prevent the so-called elephant races on highways and improve safety. – Each change of regulations that is so drastic in our country means that it takes a long time before it is enforced and before people get used to the fact that there is a new regulation – says Magdalena Wit-Wesołowska, a transport psychologist.
– I think that this will change if the police conduct such inspections and widely inform about their results – believes Łukasz Zboralski, road safety expert, editor-in-chief of the brd24.pl portal
Almost all drivers caught breaking the overtaking ban were fined PLN 1,000 and eight penalty points by the police. – Routine comes out here, they’ve been driving like this all their lives, they’ve been overtaking like this all their lives, and now they suddenly have to change to the fact that it can’t be like that – judges Magdalena Wit-Wesołowska.
Police checks should be more frequent. And not only in Silesia, but throughout Poland.
Main photo source: TVN facts