Car accessories are an increasingly broad group of products used by drivers who are aware of the need to care for…
Let's keep an eye on changes in road regulations
(photo Moje Auto)
A driving license is an official confirmation of our skills to drive a motor vehicle of a specific category. And, of course, knowledge of road traffic regulations. Regardless of whether it is issued indefinitely or for a fixed period, it does not exempt us from systematically monitoring changes in the Highway Code and complying with new requirements. And it's not about confirming an old maxim Ignorantia legis non excusat. Because most of the situations mentioned in today's entry work to our advantage, drivers!
Go on holiday with a complete set of documents
Changes in road regulations? Twenty years ago, my set of driver's documents included two paper books - a vehicle registration certificate, a driving license and a policy confirming the conclusion of a civil liability agreement (OC). Today, the driving license has been replaced by a plastic card. It is smaller and fits into a credit card compartment, which translates into our convenience.
The vehicle registration certificate still takes up a lot of space, and its cover also holds a card with the third party liability insurance policy. This may soon change to our advantage, because, for example, a policeman will check the car's data in the CEPIK database. Therefore, we will be able to leave both documents (but not the driving license) at home.
(photo: My Car)
I may emphasize this because, according to previous announcements by government representatives and media publications, this was to be the case from June 50. The next date was set for October XNUMX this year. The lack of a registration certificate, like a driving license, exposes us to a fine of PLN XNUMX, but without penalty points.
Why can we lose our driving license?
Speaking of penalty points, the announced changes tightening the possibility of their earlier reduction have not come into force. So, if our account does not have 24 points, we can still go to a special course and after six hours of lessons and paying PLN 300, reduce the balance by six points. What's more, we have this right once every six months. Thanks to this, we do not run the risk of losing our driving license, although I encourage you not to treat it as a violation of applicable road regulations!
After the change in regulations, which is expected to take place in the fall of this year, the course will last as long as 28 hours, and the "frequency" of attendance will be extended to five years. Penalty points will still automatically disappear 12 months from the date they were imposed.
You will also be punished with a temporary loss of your driving license if you exceed the applicable speed limit in a built-up area by 50 km/h. This provision has been in use for over three years, but as practice has shown, life writes different scenarios. Therefore, from June 22, an exception was introduced, the so-called higher necessity. This means that in certain situations we can go faster, e.g. when taking an unconscious person to the hospital. However, the police warn that they will be sensitive to such situations and will verify the validity of breaking the regulations each time.
First aid on the road
And again we smoothly move on to the next change in road traffic regulations. This time it refers to the mandatory equipment of a car, which is also to include a first aid kit. For me, its omission so far is completely contrary to logic. Because each of us, as a driver, is obliged to provide first aid to a person injured in a road accident. And without at least a tourniquet, this task is much more difficult.
About the content car first aid kit, as well as first aid, we mentioned recently on blog. Let me just remind you that it is worth not only having it, but also being able to use it. In this case, it is not worth waiting for the introduction of new regulations, my car has been equipped with it for a long time.
(photo: My Car)
Similarly to the so-called corridor of life. After all, every driver gives way to the right-of-way when he sees the signal in the rear-view mirror of a vehicle. So if we are stuck in a traffic jam on a highway or expressway, we should make it a habit to drive as close to the outer edge of the lane as possible. The road created in this way will improve the access of emergency services to the accident site.
(photo: My Car)
Do you know what the most common causes of accidents on expressways are? According to the police report for 2017, this is failure to adjust speed and failure to maintain the distance between vehicles. What's worse, in relation to the expansion of the road network, the number of accidents increases disproportionately. Hence another idea to introduce a regulation - following the example of other countries - requiring maintaining an appropriate distance from the vehicle in front of us. Also in this case, let's listen to our common sense and follow this rule today. Have a nice journey!
Revolution on the roads – changes for 2021
2021 brings a lot of changes in road traffic regulations. These changes will apply not only to car drivers, but also to pedestrians.
Increasing pedestrian safety
First, let's focus on the changes tightening the regulations regarding pedestrians at crosswalks. The driver will have to be especially careful, reduce speed and give way to pedestrians who are already approaching the crossing. So we slow down not only when we notice a pedestrian on the "zebra", but only when we see that he wants to enter it.
There are also changes coming for pedestrians. When approaching a crossing, they will be forced to put their phone and other similar devices in their pockets. This provision is intended to increase the safety of pedestrians and encourage them to pay more attention to the situation on the road.
Unification of the speed limit and the end of bumper riding
Police statistics clearly show that every fifth motorway accident is caused by failure to keep a safe distance. The changes provide for keeping a distance equal to half of the current speed on expressways. When driving, for example, 100 km/h, we must maintain a distance of 50 m from the car in front of us. The only exception to this rule will be a situation in which the driver performs an overtaking maneuver. The changes also provide for the unification of the speed limit on built-up roads to 50 km/h regardless of the time of day.
You didn't take your driving license with you? That's okay! There are changes in the regulations
At the end of 2020, you can drive without the physical need to take a driving license with you. In the event of an inspection, the police will check via the terminal in the police car whether the authorizations are consistent with what the driver declares.
