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Post by Bonobo on May 21, 2011 22:41:23 GMT 1
Two years ago, for example, my fiancé Henry took me to visit some friends in Poland. As we were driving in an English car, he relied on me, the passenger, to tell him when it was safe to overtake. Within twenty minutes of crossing the Polish border, I started to say ‘Yes, go now, it’s safe,’ even when there were vehicles coming towards us on a two-lane road.
After he had hastily applied the brakes and aborted a planned overtake at the last minute, he clearly began to have doubts about my judgement. ‘What are you doing? That wasn’t safe at all! Didn’t you see that big lorry?’ ‘Oh yes,’ I replied, ‘but the rules are different here in Poland. There’s obviously a tacit understanding that a wide two-lane road is really three lanes, so if you overtake, the driver in the front and the one coming towards you will move to the side to give you room.’
Henry asked politely how I could possibly be sure of this, given that I had never been to Poland before and had been in the country less than half an hour. My response, that I had been watching the Polish drivers and they all clearly followed this rule, was greeted with perhaps understandable scepticism. Adding ‘Trust me, I’m an anthropologist’ probably didn’t help much either, and it was some time before he could be persuaded to test my theory. When he did, the vehicles duly parted like the Red Sea to create a ‘third lane’ for us, and our Polish host later confirmed that there was indeed a sort of unofficial code of etiquette that required this.
My sense of triumph was somewhat diluted, though, by our host’s sister, who pointed out that her countrymen were also noted for their reckless and dangerous driving. Had I been a bit more observant, it seemed, I might have noticed the crosses, with flowers around the base, dotted along the roadsides – tributes placed by bereaved relatives to mark the spots w at which people had been killed in road accidents.
See the film I made 4 years ago:
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Post by valpomike on May 23, 2011 3:01:27 GMT 1
Was that filmed in Chicago? I looks like the kind of driver's they have.
Mike
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Post by Bonobo on Aug 8, 2012 15:12:25 GMT 1
Two years ago, for example, my fiancé Henry took me to visit some friends in Poland. As we were driving in an English car, he relied on me, the passenger, to tell him when it was safe to overtake. Within twenty minutes of crossing the Polish border, I started to say ‘Yes, go now, it’s safe,’ even when there were vehicles coming towards us on a two-lane road.
After he had hastily applied the brakes and aborted a planned overtake at the last minute, he clearly began to have doubts about my judgement. ‘What are you doing? That wasn’t safe at all! Didn’t you see that big lorry?’ ‘Oh yes,’ I replied, ‘but the rules are different here in Poland. There’s obviously a tacit understanding that a wide two-lane road is really three lanes, so if you overtake, the driver in the front and the one coming towards you will move to the side to give you room.’
Henry asked politely how I could possibly be sure of this, given that I had never been to Poland before and had been in the country less than half an hour. My response, that I had been watching the Polish drivers and they all clearly followed this rule, was greeted with perhaps understandable scepticism. Adding ‘Trust me, I’m an anthropologist’ probably didn’t help much either, and it was some time before he could be persuaded to test my theory. When he did, the vehicles duly parted like the Red Sea to create a ‘third lane’ for us, and our Polish host later confirmed that there was indeed a sort of unofficial code of etiquette that required this.
Here is a perfect example of this behaviour link |
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Post by pjotr on Aug 8, 2012 15:41:44 GMT 1
Bonobo, Here a video of very bad Dutch drivers: (The program is called " The worst drivers of the Netherlands") The girl drives around 80 km/ph in an area where she is allowed to drive 30 km/ph. She hits an old timer of an old chap who worked 13 years on his car.So there are not only bad drivers in Poland.  The presenter of the program " The worst drivers of the Netherlands" is hit by this rediculous driver and survives this driving exercise. Crazy motor driver from Amsterdam to Rotterdam: (Normally this drive cost a car driver one hour) Cheers, Pieter P.S.- I wonder how these people got their driving license and how they were able to produce this program. |
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Post by pjotr on Aug 9, 2012 14:41:23 GMT 1
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Post by pjotr on Aug 9, 2012 22:57:39 GMT 1
By the way there are a lot of Polish cars, vans (mini-busses), trucks and busses in the Netherlands. There is professional mass movement of Poles from Poland and Germany to the Netherlands and vice versa. Trade, Import & Export, construction firms, conservation and restoration firms (an Polish expertise with all those wonderful Polish cities and towns that were rebuilt and those damaged buildings, houses, churches, pallaces and castles that were restored). So from Polish worker, plumber, plasterworkers, carpenters, house painters and decorators, electricians, businessmen- and women, shop and restaurant owners, and students, the Netherlands is crowded with Polish travelers on the road next to the Dutch, Germans and othters who use our highways and roads.
P.S.- But most noticable are the Polish trucks on Dutch highways. You see more Polish trucks (professional transport) than you see Polish cars. Most foreign cars are German or Belgian. After that come the Poles and afther the Poles come the French, the Bulgarians and the Rumanians and others (I think).
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Post by Bonobo on Aug 9, 2012 23:01:23 GMT 1
So from Polish worker, plumber, plasterworkers, carpenters, house painters and decorators, electricians, businessmen- and women, shop and restaurant owners, and students, the Netherlands is crowded with Polish travelers on the road And what is your perception of those Polish drivers? ;D ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by pjotr on Aug 9, 2012 23:24:09 GMT 1
My perception of those Polish drivers in the Netherlands is that I do not have negative experiances with them. The funny thing is that Poles have a great variety of people, and today Poles drive the same cars like other Europeans. Volkswagen, Ford, Opel, BMW, Mazda, Renault, Peugot, Skoda, Mercedes, Toyota and etc. Young Poles (often working class, because the majority of the Poles are workers -I think-) look like young Dutch people, with jeans and white t-shirts and baseball caps (or not). They are only recognisable from their number plates with PL on it. Often they are not so loud, like for instance the Dutch or Germans who are more present with their loud speaking. If they speak with eachother you see that they are Poles, and sometimes when they are working on the scaffolding standing next to high building walls or roofs they have to speak louder or scream messages to eachother. But that was a while ago for more than 1,5 years ago I haven't heard them again. My neighbourhood is quiet now. But even in that aspect Dutch workers on scaffolding speak louder and make more noise than the Poles. I see the Polish cars in my street, but I never see the drivers and passengers any more. They are quite invisible. Maybe they are working in another street or block. There is not so much news about Polish drivers either. I only read any now and then about drunken Poles who caused some problems in traffic or in Dutch pubs, but that is more in the densly populated Urban area's in the West (Randstad), in the East (my area) it is more quiet.
But news about Poles in the Netherlands is quite scarse. The PVV and it's hotline against Poland is forgotten. It was not such a sucdes I guess. One danger though is that "some" Poles do not understand the danger of the fast traffic on Dutch highways. There were some tragic accidents with Poles who died on a Dutch highway when they crossed it walking. Two quarreling Polish women were badly hurt when they were hit by a Dutch car who couldn't avoid them when they suddenly ran towards the highway. I thought that one of them died and the other was badly hurt. More of these accidents happened with Poles. I think that some of them come from rural area's in Poland and aren't used to the bussy and dangerous traffic in the Netherlands?
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 8, 2013 21:14:44 GMT 1
Opps! The end of paradise for Polish drivers? Traditional hairdryers  and regular radars  are slowy pushed out by new technologies. The authorities are installing high tech dual direction radars  www.depart.pl/en/more-tickets-300-new-speed-cameras-on-polish-roadsand speed cameras all over Poland and fitting road patrols with "stealth cruisers." New cars already earned 11 million in one month.   superauto24.se.pl/auto-porady/11-mln-zl-w-miesiac-tyle-zarobily -radiowozy-z-fotoradarami-inspekcji-transportu-drogowego_297295.html"]link Rostowski, Minister of Finance, is planning to gather unbelievable1.5 billion zlotys from fines and tickets for the state budget this year. |
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Post by pjotr on Jan 21, 2013 17:50:03 GMT 1
Bo, In the Netherlands you have anti-traffic control fanatics. Some of them blew up regular radars.    |
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Post by Bonobo on Jan 22, 2013 10:56:55 GMT 1
Bo, In the Netherlands you have anti-traffic control fanatics. Some of them blew up regular radars. In Poland they sometimes only spray paint over glass lenses:  One danger though is that " some" Poles do not understand the danger of the fast traffic on Dutch highways. There were some tragic accidents with Poles who died on a Dutch highway when they crossed it walking. Two quarreling Polish women were badly hurt when they were hit by a Dutch car who couldn't avoid them when they suddenly ran towards the highway. I thought that one of them died and the other was badly hurt. More of these accidents happened with Poles. I think that some of them come from rural area's in Poland and aren't used to the bussy and dangerous traffic in the Netherlands? It is the same problem in Poland. A highway is built across rural areas all of a sudden and people, especially old, have a problem with changing their habits. |
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 6, 2013 1:17:36 GMT 1
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Post by tufta on Mar 6, 2013 7:59:49 GMT 1
Wow, those local council guys invent incredible things. For example, speed cameras camouflaged as rubbish bins. Appaling. Somehow reminds me the old-time communist invigilation. I think it should be prohibited. Speed controls - YES, but not like that. |
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Post by Bonobo on Mar 9, 2013 23:16:55 GMT 1
Appaling. Somehow reminds me the old-time communist invigilation. I think it should be prohibited. Speed controls - YES, but not like that. I agree. I hope the people responsible for those tricks won`t be elected to their posts again. It all depends on us, voters. |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 1, 2013 21:40:02 GMT 1
May holidays claim 77 lives on roads
06.05.2013 08:42
The extended May holiday saw 77 lives lost on Polish roads between Friday 26 April and Sunday 5 May.
All in all there were 742 reported accidents, in which 949 people were injured.
As Inspector Mariusz Sokolowski reflected in an interview with the TVN24 news channel, a rash of accidents is typical during the holiday, and statistics were comparable with those from last year, when 65 died.
“Senseless rushing is the most common cause of accidents,” he said.
However, somewhat fewer people were arrested for drink-driving this year (over 4500 were detained, as opposed to over 5000 during the 2012 May holiday).
It had been a long winter this year, and typically, the frequency of accidents increases when the weather improves, as drivers become more carefree.
Both marked and unmarked police cars patrolled the roads this year, and checks were made to see if seat belts were being worn, and if toddlers were strapped into special seats
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Post by pjotr on Jun 2, 2013 19:42:54 GMT 1
Bo,Tufta, My mother and someone I know in Poland advice me not to go by car to Poland. In their perspective the Polish traffic is to dangerous. That Polish friend from Wroclaw adviced me to travel by train, coach (Eurotours) or plane. I will have to think what way of transport to take when I go to Poland?  Eurolines busses at Amsterdam Amstel train station. They drive from Amsterdam to Warsaw. Amsterdam Central station LOT plane takes off from Schiphol Airport (Amsterdam) What is your advice? Cheers, Pieter P.S.- I flew with KLM to Warsaw in 2006 and went with a coach to Krakow in 2004. |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 4, 2013 21:32:30 GMT 1
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 4, 2015 1:56:15 GMT 1
Since May 2015 drivers have had to be careful. If they exceed the speed limit by 50 kilometers, their drivinfg license is confiscated by the police on the spot. See such a case:
On 18-05-2015 a new law has come into force. It states that if you are exceeding speed by over 50km/h in a built-up area, in addition to a ticket, your license is suspended for 3 months. Cammer has been caught doing 107km/h in a 50km/h city zone. His license has been taken by the policeman. Driver punished by this gets a 24-hour cerrtificate which he can use to travel to home.
Dialogue from 1:04: - pull your hand brake, turn the engine off. Hello, this is traffic department. Documents, ID, driving license please. (...) - Do you see this? - Yes - Then you will not see this again for 3 months. Your measured speed is 107km/h, 50km/h is allowed here. Today your license is retained.
www.reddit.com/r/Roadcam/comments/37gjis/poland_since_18052015_it_is_this_easy_to_lose/ |
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Post by Bonobo on May 26, 2016 15:46:01 GMT 1
Fewer road accidents in Poland after new penalties
23.05.2016 08:00
The number of road accidents in Poland has dropped after tough new penalties were brought in a year ago, police say.
Under the new rules, drivers caught exceeding the speed limit by over 50 kph in built-up areas automatically lose their driving licence for three months.
Inspector Marek Konkolewski of Warsaw police headquarters told private broadcaster TVN: “There’s been a drop in road accidents by 3,134, with 392 fewer people killed and 3,960 fewer injured. That’s pleasing.”
Over 34,000 speeders have been stripped of their driving licence for three months over the last year.
Junior inspector Józef Klimczewski, from Poznań police headquarters in western Poland, said: “The change [in rules] has contributed to a change in thinking by drivers.”- See more at: www.thenews.pl/1/9/Artykul/253909,Fewer-road-accidents-in-Poland-after-new-penalties#sthash.zbCnzH1i.dpuf
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Post by Bonobo on Oct 2, 2016 15:18:19 GMT 1
Not only males but females too. The female driver of this car got two tickets - one for speeding, the other for overtaking on a bend. And 10 points.  |
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 8, 2017 20:29:19 GMT 1
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 23, 2017 0:25:40 GMT 1
Polish police call for caution over Easter period
14.04.2017 08:57
The police in Poland have appealed for caution around the country over the Easter period.
The call is partly aimed at motorists to drive carefully over the holidays in an attempt to minimise accidents on the road.
But police added that as Poles prepare for Easter, the rising number of customers at shopping centres and commuters on public transport could also be a magnet for pickpockets.
Authorities have asked residents to avoid keeping money and important documents in outside pockets and in jackets.
“Keep in mind that pick pockets often work in groups, they often create a distraction in order to be able to get to your possessions more easily,” a statement released by the police said.
Authorities said that since many people visit relatives in other towns and cities, empty apartments could also attract thieves. Police said that around two-thirds of homes are broken-in through windows, so residents should close their windows and, if possible, lock them.
Roads around Poland will receive additional patrols to ensure motorists are driving safely and within the speed limit. Holidays are usually a time when car accidents and fatalities increase exponentially.
Nineteen killed in Polish road accidents over Easter
18.04.2017 10:23
Nineteen people were killed in 187 accidents on Polish roads since Saturday during the long Easter weekend, police have said.
A total of 261 people were injured in accidents. Meanwhile, police say they stopped 765 drink drivers.
During the same period last year, 29 people died over the three days and 252 were injured in 173 road accidents. Police stopped 876 drink drivers.
Over 10,000 police were out on patrol over Easter, when many Poles traditionally visit relatives in other towns and cities. Officers carried out speed and checks and tested drivers for alcohol.
Police said the main causes of accidents included speeding, failure to give other drivers the right of way, incorrect overtaking and drink-driving.
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Post by Bonobo on May 31, 2018 20:13:43 GMT 1
A new kind of road offence has emerged in Poland - drivers go backwards on highways to avoid traffic jams caused by accidents or other unexpected events. The state isn`t prepared for it yet, penalties are too low.  |
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Post by Bonobo on Jun 1, 2018 12:03:19 GMT 1
I still remember reading about a deadly stabbing at a filling station in the USA in 1980s after one driver tried to cut the line and another killed him in fury. I was shocked. Today some Polish drivers seem to follow Americans. Good because it proves that Poland is only about 30 years behind US.  Look closely   |
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Post by Bonobo on Apr 14, 2019 11:22:32 GMT 1
Some Polish drivers took off their plates and tried to race on Slovakian roads. Fortunately, the police there weren`t sleeping.   |
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