The incident occurred on Tuesday, January 3, after 8:00 a.m., in Przejęsław (Osiecznica municipality). The driver of a Citroën, a 68-year-old resident of Bolesławiec County, lost control on a slippery road, left the roadway and struck a tree with the right side of the vehicle. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The roads in our county are slippery. Road workers have not managed to clear all the routes of snow. A Reader wrote to us :

This is what the detour roads to Lwówek from Bolesławiec looked like at 8:00 in the morning. And it was supposed to be so beautiful because the main road was closed… […] It was beautiful, although far from safe.

Niebezpiecznie na drogach naszego powiatuNiebezpiecznie na drogach naszego powiatu • Czytelnik
Niebezpiecznie na drogach naszego powiatuNiebezpiecznie na drogach naszego powiatu • Czytelnik

And added:

And this is the road through Kraszowice all the way to Ocice. It is a little better beyond Ocice. This is how the road workers take care of things. Since it is a detour with increased traffic, it is probably difficult for them to get in there to clear and grit the road.

Niebezpiecznie na drogach naszego powiatuNiebezpiecznie na drogach naszego powiatu • Czytelnik

Take care.

Traffic police advise

Lower Silesian police are calling for common sense, imagination, adapting speed to road conditions, and compliance with traffic regulations and safe-driving principles. Here are some tips:

  • our position behind the wheel – in the seat, we should try to position ourselves so that our centre of gravity is as low as reasonably possible while maintaining an adequate field of vision. Driving a car correctly and skilfully requires being able to “feel” the vehicle. Without positioning yourself properly behind the wheel, there is no chance of driving the vehicle well.
  • adjustment of two basic dimensions. The first step is the distance between our seat and the pedals. Place your left foot on the clutch and press it all the way down. In this position, the leg should be slightly bent at the knee. This provides a better feel for the clutch and, in the event of a collision, when we instinctively brace ourselves with the bent leg, protects the hip and knee joints from more serious injuries. We adjust the distance between the seat and the steering wheel after resting our back firmly against the seat, by grasping the point on the wheel farthest from us (most often the 12 o’clock position) with a slightly bent arm. The aim is to turn the steering wheel and access all the controls around it freely, without lifting our back from the seat, and with sufficient force. It is a mistake to sit too close to the steering wheel, as well as too far away from it. Let us also remember to adjust the head restraint correctly so that it fulfils its role while driving
  • airbags and seat belts. The vast majority of new vehicles are equipped with airbags. They perform their function only when seat belts with pyrotechnic pretensioners are fastened. Wearing a seat belt is essential, even during a short drive at low speed. It may happen that, while driving, we hit the vehicle in front of us, causing the airbag to deploy; as is well known, it inflates with tremendous force. Without a fastened seat belt, this can have unpleasant consequences
  • the steering wheel. At first glance, it may seem that if we are driving straight ahead, the way we hold it does not matter. The result? Among other things, carelessly leaving one hand on it, anywhere. Surely each of us has seen drivers operating a car in this way more than once. We have already mentioned that, through the steering wheel and hands placed correctly on it, we receive very important signals. Therefore, the steering wheel should be held with both hands, even while driving without planning to change direction. Using clock positions, the hands should rest at nine o’clock (left hand) and three o’clock (right hand)
  • clothing. In winter, it must not restrict us in any way. The footwear we drive in, for example, affects how quickly we press the brake. We can drive while wearing gloves, provided they are designed for this purpose. Otherwise, they may slip. Driving in a hat and scarf can limit our view
  • winter tyres. Winter conditions require not only greater imagination and reflexes on the road, but also special preparation of our vehicle for this period. One standard procedure is changing from summer tyres to winter tyres. When the average daily temperature falls below 7 degrees Celsius, everyone should seriously consider changing them
  • remembering that we are not alone on the road. Let us show other drivers plenty of respect and remember that it is not the vehicle that skids and loses control, but the person driving it. We decide many factors while driving.