Vision Zero in Poland

Jamroz, Kazimierz; Romanowska, Aleksandra; Michalski, Lech; Żukowska, Joanna · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-76505-7_14

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Summary

This paper reviews three decades of road safety efforts in Poland, analyzing the country’s transition from a systemic failure to the adoption of the Vision Zero framework. The research is motivated by Poland’s historically high road fatality rates, which peaked at nearly 8,000 deaths in 1991 and remained significantly higher than the European Union average through 2018. Despite improvements, Poland continues to rank among the EU’s most dangerous countries for road safety. The authors aim to diagnose persistent problems, evaluate the effectiveness of past policies, and outline necessary steps to achieve Vision Zero, which prioritizes human life over mobility and assumes collective responsibility for safety. The study utilizes historical data from 1988 to 2019, including police databases (SEWIK) and socioeconomic indicators, to assess trends in fatalities and injuries. It provides a detailed chronological analysis of Poland’s national road safety programs, specifically the GAMBIT series (1996–2020). The authors examine the evolution of these programs from general qualitative goals in the late 1990s to the strategic adoption of Vision Zero in 2005. The analysis identifies nine key problem areas generating high fatality rates: excessive speed, national road infrastructure, pedestrian safety, nighttime accidents, dangerous roadsides, drink-driving, junctions, and pedestrian crossings. The findings indicate that while total fatalities dropped from 7,901 in 1991 to 2,909 in 2019, progress has been uneven and often insufficient compared to other EU nations. Specific interventions yielded mixed results; for instance, speed camera systems and infrastructure improvements reduced speed-related fatalities by 61% and national road deaths by 65%, respectively. However, pedestrian fatalities remain critically high, accounting for 31% of all deaths, due to inadequate infrastructure and driver behavior. The authors identify significant systemic barriers, including weak management structures, lack of central leadership, poor funding mechanisms, and limited access to accident data. They note that while enforcement against drink-driving was highly effective, reducing such fatalities by 83%, other areas like junction safety and nighttime visibility have seen slower improvements. The paper concludes that achieving Vision Zero requires fundamental changes in political prioritization and institutional effectiveness. The authors argue that current "soft" measures are insufficient and that an integrated, knowledge-based approach with adequate resources is essential. Recommendations include strengthening the road safety management system, improving infrastructure for vulnerable users, and implementing systematic monitoring of policy effectiveness. The study emphasizes that learning from international best practices and addressing collective responsibility gaps are critical for Poland to reduce its fatality rates to levels comparable with leading European nations.

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• comparative international