For their caregivers, it is a time to pay particular attention to safety conditions during this break. For police officers, it is part of their daily duties—including checking vehicles, drivers’ sobriety and licences, and the technical condition of cars and coaches transporting children. They also patrol ski runs, maintain order and respond to dangerous and unlawful behaviour. Everything is done with the safety of our children in mind.

Winter Break on the Roads

As every year, traffic police officers have begun the “Safe Winter Break” campaign. They are watching over safety by checking drivers’ sobriety and licences, as well as the speed and technical condition of passenger cars and coaches. Particular attention is paid to drivers of vehicles transporting children and young people. There are significantly more police patrols on roads leading to towns where organised winter camps are being held.

The technical condition of coaches can be checked throughout Poland. During an inspection, officers check the coach’s technical condition, the driver’s psychophysical fitness, their licences and sobriety. After such an inspection, the coach driver receives a report.

Officers remind parents and caregivers of several basic rules to ensure that a child’s coach journey is safe:

  • check the carrier carefully—when the company began operating, the scale of its operations, and whether it provides appropriate insurance and replacement transport in the event of a breakdown
  • ask traffic police officers to inspect the vehicle in which the child will travel, as well as its driver. Contact the duty officer at the nearest police unit and provide the exact date, time and place of the coach’s departure. Before the children set off, police officers will check the bus’s technical condition, the driver’s sobriety and all required documents
  • call the police if the vehicle’s technical condition (bald tyres, cracked windows or an oil leak) or the driver’s behaviour (a noticeable smell of alcohol or slurred speech) raises any doubts.

Winter Break at Home

It is worth reminding children of the basic rules for pedestrians travelling on roads in poor visibility and when roads are slippery and snow-covered. Children must understand that drivers have more difficulty seeing pedestrians at dusk. Braking distances are longer on slippery surfaces. Therefore, in autumn and winter, children should cross the street with particular caution—even at a marked pedestrian crossing or when the pedestrian traffic light is green.

It should also be remembered that every pedestrian travelling after dark on a road outside a built-up area must wear a reflective element positioned so that it is visible to drivers. Failure to have a reflective element may result in a fine.

Reflective elements may include items attached to clothing, bands, vests and lanyards. Their placement is important: reflectors are recommended at knee and hand height, and around the middle of the chest and back—this ensures that they are clearly visible to other road users.

It is worth remembering that after dark, a pedestrian wearing dark clothing can be seen by a vehicle driver from a distance of approximately 40 metres. A pedestrian wearing reflective elements, on the other hand, can be visible from as far away as 150 metres. These additional metres allow the driver to brake and safely pass the pedestrian.

Parents and caregivers should also remind children to:

    choose safe places for playing in the snow and sledding, away from busy streets, intersections and traffic routes. Let us remember that in winter vehicle braking distances are significantly longer, so particular caution is needed when near the road
    • not throw snowballs at moving vehicles, as such behaviour may cause a collision or road accident
    • use only specially prepared ice rinks. Under no circumstances should anyone go onto the ice of frozen bodies of water, lakes, canals, ponds or similar places. Ice that appears thick may break under our weight at any moment
    • organise sleigh rides only under adult supervision; connect the sledges with a thick, strong rope so that they do not come apart while moving
    • never attach sledges to a car, as this may end tragically
    • during activities in the snow and at the ice rink, keep an eye on valuable belongings. If possible, leave a wallet or mobile phone in a locker or with a trusted person.
Winter Break on the Slopes

With the arrival of the winter season, police officers began serving on ski slopes, where they are also present during the winter break. Thanks to specialist courses, police officers are highly trained—not only are they excellent skiers, but they also support GOPR during rescue operations.

Officers on skis primarily ensure safety and order on the routes, paying attention to excessively reckless skiing and intoxicated skiers. They also check whether children under 16 are wearing helmets. If necessary, they can provide first aid to injured people.

Importantly, officers patrol not only the ski runs but also their surroundings—access roads and car parks.

KGP