The government announces tougher penalties for drivers after an accident at a railway crossing

Penalties for drivers are getting tougher

The announcement of changes in the regulations is the result of Wednesday's accident at a railway crossing in Sokolniki Suche near Przysucha. There, a truck hit a passenger train on the Lublin-Szczecin route. One person died. After the event, the following spoke: Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak, announcing "radical changes" in the regulations.

We want to introduce a regulation under which any driver who enters a road-rail crossing when the red light is on will lose his driving license - his driving license will be suspended for three months - said Dariusz Klimczak on Wednesday on TVN24.

We also want to change the Penal Code in cooperation with the Minister of Justice, he added. The minister emphasized that behavior "that leads to a disaster or loss of life will be punished very severely."

Here, the court will be obliged to impose a prison sentence, but also to discontinue the license for a specified period of time, he said. He clarified that the penalty will apply to a person who causes a traffic hazard at the crossing.

The rapid pace of change

Klimczak emphasized that the regulations have already been drafted. They will be consulted tomorrow, he said on Wednesday. He added that it is a "series of regulations".

The Prime Minister expects the finished project to be presented to the Council of Ministers next week. And I will do everything to ensure that such a project is ready - he assured.

Tragic accident at a railway crossing

On Wednesday morning, at a railway crossing in Sokolniki Suche near Przysucha, a truck collided with a passenger train from Lublin to Szczecin. One of the passengers traveling in the first carriage of the train died as a result of her injuries. This was one of the four most seriously injured people, including the train driver, the truck driver and another passenger. According to information provided by the services, 20 people were injured.

The three people most injured in the accident were taken to the Masovian Specialist Hospital in Radom, said Karolina Gajewska, spokeswoman for the facility, in an interview with the Polish Press Agency.

One of the patients who came to us with a hand injury was discharged after medical treatment. The second person with chest injuries is still hospitalized. A pregnant passenger of the train is also under observation; her and the child's condition is described as good, the spokeswoman said.

The Prime Minister responded to the accident

After the accident, Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the railway disaster in Sokolniki Suche shows that urgent work must be started immediately to radically tighten the regulations for people who systematically enter railway crossings. The head of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Dariusz Klimczak, said on the X platform that "statutory tightening of penalties for breaking regulations at road and rail crossings is being urgently prepared."