Death on roads as families visit graves
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
04.11.2013 08:54
Thirty eight people died and 410 were injured over the All Saints' long weekend as a result of road accidents across Poland.
The scene of a crash on Friday (All Saints' Day) near Zakopane. The driver of one of the vehicles was under the influence of alcohol. Seven people were injured, including a woman who was seven months pregnant. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot.
From Thursday to Sunday, during which families paid respects to the departed at cemeteries, there was a total of 338 road accidents.
This year, about 10,000 policemen were out on patrol, particularly in the vicinities of cemeteries and on roads leading into cities.
Some 1298 people were arrested for drink driving, the largest proportion on All Souls' Day (Saturday), which comes after All Saints' Day (Friday).
Last year, the break lasted for five rather than four days, although there was little difference in the number of casualties. Some 36 people died on the roads, while in 2011, also a five-day break, there were 51 casualties.
The most frequent cause of fatalities continues to be excessive speed. (nh)
Source: PAP