The turn of October and November is a time of intensified police operations aimed at ensuring public safety and order, especially during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebrations. During this period, traffic near cemeteries and churches, as well as on access roads to larger cities, increases significantly.

Increased vehicle traffic on the roads of our province, as well as a larger-than-usual number of people near cemeteries, should be expected as early as October 27. Therefore, starting this coming Friday, significantly more police officers than usual will be watching over the safety of people travelling on the roads of Lower Silesia and visiting the resting places of their loved ones.

Police operations in Lower Silesia related to the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebrations will begin on October 27 and continue through November 2 of this year. As part of Operation ZNICZ 2017, traffic police officers will carry out activities aimed at limiting dangerous behaviour on the roads, ensuring road users a safe journey to their destinations and return home, and maintaining smooth traffic flow. The intensity of the operations will be adjusted to the anticipated traffic volume and local conditions.

During the operations, police officers will check, among other things:

  • compliance with speed limits on access roads to cities,
  • the use of seat belts and child restraint systems,
  • drivers’ sobriety and the technical condition of vehicles,
  • compliance with restrictions and the ban on traffic for vehicles and vehicle combinations with a permissible gross weight exceeding 12 tonnes, excluding buses,
  • the proper use of vehicles’ external lights,
  • the use of reflective elements by pedestrians walking on roads after dark outside built-up areas.

Officers will also supervise locations where traffic arrangements change near cemeteries and places where vehicle traffic is completely closed. The measures taken by police officers will primarily be supportive, providing all road users with extensive assistance, both by supplying information and by helping them reach the necropolises safely and move around them.

During this special period, officers from the prevention and criminal divisions will also be involved in intensified safety operations. Officers will patrol the areas around cemeteries and church grounds. Railway and bus stations, as well as public transport, will also be placed under increased police supervision.

All Saints’ Day celebrations are also a time when we must realize our own impact on our safety.

Let us remember not to take more money to the cemetery than we need. Do not carry documents, money, keys or valuables in shopping bags or open large clothing pockets. Purses, wallets, phones and bank cards, as well as keys, should be kept in a closed inner pocket of clothing. When using public transport, always keep your handbag or backpack in front of you and hold it in your hand. Do not leave your belongings unattended at graves. Sometimes a moment of inattention—for example, walking away from a burial site to get water for flowers or taking rubbish to a bin—is enough to become a potential victim of theft. Be careful when boarding and getting off a tram or bus. Whenever possible, avoid crowds and people you have just met (in this case, apply the principle of limited trust).

Let us remember that traffic volume increases significantly during the holidays, particularly around cemeteries. Fog and falling rain often make driving more difficult. Adjust your speed to the prevailing road conditions. It is better to drive more slowly in order to reach your destination safely.