– People who break the court ban (driving – ed.) will be severely punished and will be most affected by the changes we propose. The draft of the new law is already prepared, said Deputy Minister of Justice Arkadiusz Myrcha. He emphasized that the tragic accident a few days ago, caused by a driver with a driving ban, is another proof that changes to road traffic regulations are necessary.
Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy was hit by a bus at a pedestrian crossing in Warsaw. The perpetrator had nearly 2 per mille of alcohol in his body and was driving despite a driving ban. He did not help the boy and fled the scene of the accident. The 14-year-old died in hospital.
The Ministry of Justice announced on Tuesday that such road offenses may be treated as so-called roadkill.
Death due to gross speeding
– Stop road bandits! We will do everything in our power to make this happen. The regulations will specify the circumstances of accidents related to grossly exceeding the speed limit or driving with a driving ban. If this results in death, it will be a crime with separate penalties, announced the Minister of Justice Adam Bodnar.
Assumptions of the reform road regulations presented in November 2024 during a joint conference of the ministers of justice, infrastructure and interior affairs and administration. Representatives of the Police Headquarters and the General Inspectorate of Road Transport were also involved in the work on the new regulations.
– This includes, among other things, the implementation of provisions that are called roadkill in other legislation, i.e., for example, significantly tightening the regulations for people driving despite a court ban – confirmed the direction of the planned changes, Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Myrcha.
Tightening penalties for drivers
- tougher penalties for driving despite a court ban;
- possibility of being banned from driving for life;
- suspension of driving license for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h, also outside built-up areas;
- modifications to regulations for driving under the influence of alcohol;
- no possibility of suspending a prison sentence for driving with a blood concentration above 1.5 per mille;
- tightening regulations for people taking part in illegal races.
Among the proposals are: higher sanctions for grossly dangerous, reckless driving and increased penalties for an accident with a fatal result (illegal racing, grossly dangerous, reckless driving or breaking a driving ban).
One of the key elements of the planned changes is tightening sanctions for drivers who violate court driving bans. In the event of a violation of the ban, the court should be able to impose a lifelong driving ban. Also possible confiscation of the vehicle and a minimum cash benefit of PLN 10,000. PLN are to act as deterrents.
The project also introduces significant modifications including driving under the influence of alcohol. If the driver has between 0.5 and 1.5 per mille of alcohol in his blood or is subject to a driving ban, the court will be able to decide on the forfeiture of the vehicle. If the alcohol concentration exceeds 1.5 per mille, the court will be obliged to confiscate the vehicle.
In the case of drivers who drive with a blood level above 1.5 per mille, it is planned to introduce into the Penal Code a provision preventing the suspension of imprisonment sentences.
The penalty for participating in illegal races is imprisonment from three months to five years.
In turn, the provisions of driving license suspended for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h will also be extended to single-lane, two-way roads outside built-up areas.
It is planned to create a public register of people with a lifelong driving ban. New drivers will be subject to a trial period with lower speed limits and mandatory supplementary training. It will also not be possible to reduce penalty points for the most serious road offenses.
Third party liability insurance rates for people participating in illegal races will also increase.
17-year-olds will be able to obtain a driving license, but they will only be able to drive in the company of a guardian who is at least 24 years old and has had a driving license for at least five years.
Work stage
The ministry assured that the work of the inter-ministerial team had been completed. – People who break the court ban will be severely punished and will be most affected by the changes we propose. The draft of the new law is already prepared. We will start the government process within a few days, assured Deputy Minister of Justice Arkadiusz Myrcha.
Project of the Ministry of Justice, prepared together with Ministry of Interior and Administrationin the coming days it is to be entered into the list of legislative works of the Council of Ministers, so that consultations on new regulations can begin in January.
– We want this project to reach the Sejm in the first quarter and be submitted to the president for signature in the first half of 2025 – noted Deputy Minister Arkadiusz Myrcha.
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