Police:
We all realize how important it is for emergency services to reach the scene quickly and provide assistance to people injured in road accidents. The priority is not only to properly secure the scene, but above all to provide assistance to the injured as quickly as possible. While drivers do not have much difficulty creating an emergency corridor in cities, on expressways or motorways they are unable to comply with the applicable regulations.
An example? On March 7, a road accident involving two trucks traveling from Wrocław toward Zgorzelec occurred on the A4 motorway. During their passage through the emergency corridor, Legnica traffic police encountered a truck whose driver had blocked the road.
“Although regulations require drivers to facilitate the passage of an emergency vehicle, not everyone continues to follow them in practice,” says junior asp. Anna Grześków of the Municipal Police Headquarters in Legnica. “The officers intervened immediately and issued the irresponsible 38-year-old with a PLN 2,500 fine.”
She adds:
The fine is not as painful, however, as the thought that our actions may have contributed to the loss of someone’s life or health. Emergency services repeatedly struggle with difficult access to accident scenes, which ultimately results in assistance being provided much later. In the event of life-threatening injuries, every second counts!
Police appeal:
Driver, if the road you are traveling on begins to jam, move toward the edge of the carriageway—in accordance with the applicable regulations—and do not wait until you hear the sirens of emergency services. Remember that the space left between vehicles must allow not only passage in one direction but also a safe return route. Turning around and getting out of vehicles is strictly prohibited.