Poland reports surge in drunk driving and traffic violations

Polish authorities have reported a series of serious traffic offenses involving driving under the influence and violating driving bans. In Międzyzdroje, the District Court in Szczecin sentenced Patryk F. to 19 years in prison and a lifetime driving ban following a 2023 incident where he drove into a family on a sidewalk while under the influence of MDMA, resulting in three deaths.

Other recent incidents include a 45-year-old man caught with 2.6 promille of alcohol who attempted to flee police, and a 37-year-old driver on the A4 motorway who attempted to bribe officers with 10,000 PLN after being caught violating a court-ordered driving ban. In Zielona Góra, morning sobriety checks led to the detention of four drivers, one of whom was transporting children while intoxicated.

Additional cases involve a 49-year-old woman sentenced to 8 months in prison for fleeing police while intoxicated and violating a lifetime ban, and a 33-year-old man sentenced to 14 months for driving a vehicle without technical inspections or insurance while under the influence and under a lifetime ban.