24 dead, 332 hurt on Polish roads during extended weekend: police

Twenty-four people were killed and 332 injured in 302 accidents on Polish roads from Friday to Tuesday, police have said, summing up an extended weekend during which Poles traveled to popular tourist sites, encouraged by warm weather.

Many Poles took the opportunity to head off on a long weekend vacation.

Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot

With Tuesday, May 3, a public holiday, many workplaces gave their employees time off to enjoy a long weekend.

Officers said they stopped 1,637 drunk drivers during the five-day period.

During a similar period last year, the death toll was slightly lower, at 22, and the total number of accidents on Polish roads was markedly lower, at 213, Robert Opas from the country’s General Police Headquarters (KGP) told reporters on Wednesday.

He added that some 4,500 police were out on the roads each day during the May long weekend in an effort to improve safety.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP