The scourge on the roads

IF THERE has been one big domestic news story in Poland since the turn of year, drink driving has probably been it. It rocketed to the top of the agenda, and to the front on the nation’s conscience, on January 1st when a drunk driver ploughed his BMW into a crowd of people on a pavement in the northern town of Kamien Pomorski. Six people died, and one boy, who was left seriously injured by the accident, lost both his parents and his brother.

Since then the media has carried stories of deaths and accidents caused by drunks in charge of vehicles almost every day, along with debate on just how to deal with the problem. Poles already have to cope with some of the most dangerous roads in Europe so the realisation that drunks were contributing to the dangers fuelled calls for action.

Bolstered by broad cross-party support, the government quickly announced a number of measures aimed at cracking down on drink driving. At a press conference Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, described the problem as a “scourge,” adding that under the proposals first-time offenders would face a minimum fine of $1,635 and the loss of...Continue reading