Polish police seize dozens of illegal drivers, two deadly crashes reported

Police traffic units in several Polish towns carried out checks that resulted in dozens of arrests for driving under the influence, driving without a licence and severe speeding. In Staszów, officers stopped roughly 350 drivers during a "Sober Morning" operation; two were found with alcohol, one with more than 2 ‰. In Aleksandrow, six motorists – including a Volvo driver who was caught at 159 km/h – had their licences revoked and were fined.

Separate incidents led to fatal accidents. In Wólka Żabna, a 19‑year‑old driver with a blood‑alcohol level around 1 ‰ crashed a Volkswagen Golf carrying five people; one 22‑year‑old died and four were injured. Prosecutors have charged the driver with causing a deadly traffic accident while intoxicated and seek a temporary arrest, with a possible sentence of up to 20 years.

A similar deadly crash occurred in Świętoszowice when a 22‑year‑old driver of a Mercedes performed a hazardous overtaking manoeuvre, lost control, hit a tree and killed his 19‑year‑old passenger. Both incidents underscore the ongoing police crackdown on unsafe driving, which also includes penalties of fines, points on licences and imprisonment of up to five years for breaching a driving ban.