Safety on the capital's roads. How many people have died this year?

In 2023, there were 1,000 deaths on the capital's roads. 29 people“It's still 29 too many, but at the same time it's the lowest number of people killed on Warsaw roads in the history of data collection, i.e. since 1983. 230 peopleand in the early 90s this number exceeded 300 people per year. We have come a long way when it comes to improving safety on the streets of Warsaw and we are heading towards Vision Zero,” the capital's road workers wrote in a press release.

SEE: Halfway through the holidays on the roads. 26 people died in Mazovia.

This year, by the end of July (as of August 2, 2024), 12 people (in the comparable period of 2023, there were 10 victims).

“At the same time, it should be noted that in the remaining five months of last year, as many as 19 people. November was exceptionally tragic in this respect, with seven victims,” ​​the road workers point out. “However, there is no rule indicating which months are the most dangerous. Every year is different. Therefore, it is highly probable that this year we will record a lower number of fatalities than last year. Especially since for several years – remembering that pandemic years are unreliable – we have been observing a steady decline,” they add.

In December 2022, the Foundation for the Development of Civil Engineering prepared a forecast for fatal accidents in Warsaw. According to it, the number of victims in 2030 is expected to be 17.

“At the same time, a decline to 29 fatalities the capital was supposed to reach only this year. So we were ahead of the forecast. In turn, the forecast for next year predicts 27 victims. However, we hope – and we are constantly working towards this goal – that in 2024 this number will be much smaller,” the road workers emphasize.

Last year in 610 accidents injured 665 peopleThis number fell below for the first time 700. In the category of seriously injured people – last year there were 43or about thirty people less than in 2022. In addition, the total number of seriously injured and fatalities – 72 – fell below for the first time 100.

Last year on the streets of the capital 11 pedestrians died. That's about five people less than in 2022. Including the end of July (as of 2.08.2024) confirmed five fatal accidents among pedestrians.

IN three cases pedestrians crossed a tram line on a red light. Two were hit by garbage trucks in a residential area.

SEE: Garbage truck driver hit pedestrian in Ursus. Woman dies.

“These are therefore atypical situations, for which the impact of road safety solutions is limited. At the same time, there is always something that can be improved. That is why every fatal accident is investigated, there is always a site inspection with the participation of representatives of all institutions involved in improving street safety. But the basis is pre-emptive action,” they explain. “In the case of pedestrian safety, crossings are key. This year, three fatal accidents at the capital's meetings (via the aforementioned tracks). Last year – just like in 2022 – there was six such incidents. Four of them took place in the first seven months of the year,” they add.

SEE: Garbage truck driver hits elderly woman

Since 2016 in Warsaw 510 crossings were modernizedincluding by building traffic lights or refuges. Road workers in this area operate on the basis of an audit of unsignalized crossings in the capital city conducted in 2016-2020. At that time, almost 4,100 crossings were checked throughout Warsaw.

SEE: Major audit of pedestrian crossings. Hundreds to improve

“A separate issue, but still of great importance, is the lighting of pedestrian crossings. Since 2016, we have installed additional lighting at nearly 2,100 crossings. Thanks to these actions, among others, no pedestrians were killed on the capital's roads between 9 p.m. and 7 p.m. in 2023. The changes mentioned contribute to the decrease in the number of incidents at crossings, and in a very short time. In 2018, there were still 240 deductions. In 2023, there were 105which is less than in the pandemic years” – the capital's road workers calculate.

SEE: They don't seem to stand out in any way. There are currently seven of them in Warsaw

In 2023 on 610 of all accidents drivers were responsible for 388compared to 2022 they caused them close 100 less.

In accidents caused by drivers of passenger cars, the largest number of people suffer. 444 the victims of such incidents included, among others: 122 pedestrians, 95 passengers and 75 cyclists. In turn, the injured perpetrators were 22.

This year, in the first seven months, there was three fatal car accidents. It died six people – two drivers and four passengers.

In total, drivers (passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, cyclists) were responsible for in 2023 582 accidents.

“However, the causes of these accidents are important. Most of them result from failure to give way to a pedestrian (134) and right of way (129). The third most common is excessive speed. It is also the most tragic cause in terms of consequences – 6 out of 21 accidents with fatalities caused by drivers” – road workers point out

Unfortunately, it also happens that drivers are drunk. In 2023, the number of accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs was 33 (32 – alcohol, 1 – other substances). That's a lot 65 percent more than in 2022.