On Monday, 16 May, tragedy was narrowly avoided on the 98th kilometre of the A4 motorway. – The findings of the police officers who arrived at the scene showed that a 57-year-old driver of a lorry with a semi-trailer, travelling from Wrocław towards Legnica, fell asleep at the wheel near Legnickie Pole – reports Asp. Staff Monika Kaleta from the press team of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Wrocław. – Then, after hitting the crash barrier on the right side of the road, he sharply veered to the left, as a result of which he lost control of the vehicle combination he was driving. It overturned onto its right side, hitting the barrier separating the carriageways.
She adds:
The services involved in clearing up the aftermath of the incident worked at the scene for more than eight hours to restore traffic on the motorway. This was not a simple task due to the size of the vehicle.
Moreover, as the officers stress, this was a matter of great luck, since no one was injured in the incident, even though traffic on the A4 was very heavy at the time.
The 57-year-old was fined PLN 2,000. The police say:
We appeal to drivers: if you feel tired, stop and rest. Drowsiness reduces attention and alertness, and consequently increases reaction time. A driver travelling long distances cannot avoid fatigue under certain weather conditions and at certain times of day.
The monotony of driving and remaining in one position also have a significant impact on our motor skills and psychophysical condition, which are very important when driving a vehicle.
They add: – Let us remember that safety on our roads largely depends on us. Sometimes it is better to reach your destination late than to cause a tragedy.