24 dead, 396 hurt on Polish roads during extended weekend: police

Twenty-four people were killed and 396 injured in 336 accidents on Polish roads from Wednesday to Sunday, police have said, summing up an extended weekend during which Poles traveled to popular tourist sites, encouraged by warm weather.

Poland's Motorway A1 clogs with traffic as people head home after a long weekend.

Photo: PAP/Tytus Żmijewski

With Thursday, June 11, a public holiday, many Poles took Friday off to enjoy a long weekend, undeterred by the COVID-19 epidemic.

Officers said they stopped 1,869 drunk drivers during the four-day break from work.

During a similar period last year, the death toll was more than twice as high, at 51, and the total number of accidents on Polish roads was 23 percent higher, Robert Opas from the country’s General Police Headquarters (KGP) said on Monday.

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

Meanwhile, 17 people drowned in Poland from June 11 to 14, the Government Centre for Security (RCB) reported on Monday.

(gs)

Source: IAR, PAP