In 2024, police officers conducted over 16 million alcohol tests and arrested 91,300 intoxicated drivers. In 2022, despite a lower number of tests, the figure was nearly 104,500. While there has been a decline, the problem remains serious. Additionally, 16,500 people violated court-imposed driving bans, and 8,200 failed to comply with decisions revoking their driving licenses. Work is ongoing on legislation to impose stricter penalties in this area.
According to data from the National Police Headquarters (KGP), an average of 252 intoxicated drivers were arrested daily in 2024, which is approximately 3.5% fewer than in 2023. Notably, the number of tests conducted has been increasing year by year – in 2024, there were 16 million tests, 15.8% more than in 2023.
“Driving under the influence is one of the key issues. Over 92,000 intoxicated drivers were stopped. If we look at the proportion of drunk drivers among those responsible for traffic accidents, the numbers are improving compared to previous years. However, it remains a significant problem,” emphasized Commissioner Robert Opas from the Traffic Department of the National Police Headquarters in an interview with Newseria.
In 2024, the number of road accidents caused by drivers under the influence exceeded 1,200, resulting in 151 fatalities. This represents a decrease of 9.8% and 28.8%, respectively. In relation to the total number of road accidents, those caused by intoxicated drivers accounted for 6.1%.
“Drunk drivers on the roads pose a danger to all road users. Fortunately, in recent years, primarily due to preventive actions by the police, the number of intoxicated drivers detected has been decreasing. I believe the tightening of regulations also plays a role,” assessed Professor Marcin Ślęzak, Director of the Motor Transport Institute.
In 2023, new regulations came into effect allowing for the confiscation of vehicles from drivers with a blood alcohol level exceeding 1.5 per mille.
“If we talk about ‘confiscation’ of vehicles from intoxicated drivers, it is technically a temporary seizure of movable property by the police. The final decision is made by a court under the supervision of a prosecutor. From March to the end of 2024, there were over 6,300 such interventions,” reported Robert Opas. “The effectiveness of this regulation is relatively high.”
Police data also indicates that in 2024, over 16,500 people violated court-imposed driving bans, and nearly 8,300 failed to comply with decisions revoking their driving licenses. Additionally, 263 drivers were caught driving despite a three-month license suspension for speeding in urban areas, and 44 drivers were found driving during an extended six-month suspension. The total number of these offenses and violations exceeded 25,000, meaning that, on average, police officers detained 69 drivers daily who were legally prohibited from driving.
“Polish law sufficiently protects other road users by eliminating intoxicated drivers. The problem, however, lies in enforcement and the effectiveness of these regulations,” noted Professor Marcin Ślęzak.
“One of the main challenges for the police is ensuring the certainty of punishment. While most individuals comply with court-imposed driving bans, we still encounter violations. More than 70,000 people in Poland have been given lifetime driving bans, and temporary bans exceed 200,000. Unfortunately, some individuals repeatedly violate these restrictions. In 2024, we had three cases where individuals were stopped despite having 19 prior driving bans. We need to be effective not just as police officers but as an entire state to ensure these individuals never get behind the wheel again. These cases often involve serious traffic offenses, including participation in accidents or driving in extreme intoxication,” stressed a representative from the Traffic Department of the National Police Headquarters.
A proposed amendment to several laws aimed at improving road safety is currently under review. One of the key changes is the tightening of penalties for drivers who violate court-imposed driving bans. If a driver breaks the ban, the court should have the authority to impose a lifetime driving ban. Additionally, vehicle confiscation and a minimum fine of 10,000 PLN are intended as deterrent measures.
“If a driver has a blood alcohol level between 0.5 and 1.5 per mille or is subject to a driving ban, the court may decide to forfeit the vehicle. If the alcohol level exceeds 1.5 per mille, the court will be required to order vehicle confiscation unless there are exceptional circumstances. Furthermore, for drivers exceeding 1.5 per mille, a new provision is planned to restrict the possibility of suspending prison sentences. Another proposal includes criminalizing illegal street racing, with penalties ranging from three months to five years of imprisonment for organizing or participating in such events,” the draft amendment justification states.
The new regulations have been jointly developed by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, the Ministry of Infrastructure, the National Police Headquarters, and the Road Transport Inspection. They are expected to be adopted in the second quarter of 2025.
“A person who makes a minor mistake for the first time – although, of course, these are serious matters – should be given a chance for correction. However, if a driver repeatedly drives under the influence and is stopped by the police multiple times, the penalty must be the strictest possible. Above all, that person should never be allowed to drive again,” concludes Commissioner Robert Opas.
