Situation Critical on Czech Roads
The situation on Czech roads leaves much to be desired, in fact it's downright ugly: in spite of a general overhaul in traffic legislation two years ago that was supposed to make Czech roads safer, the first ten months of 2002 saw the number of accidents involving motorists rise by almost 4 percent, with 48 more fatalities than in 2001. The problem, critics charge, are changes in legislation that revoked the right of the police to remand drivers' licenses in even the most serious situations, a change that largely influenced drivers to be lax in their approach to the road.
Statistics have also shown, more drivers are getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol. This year it was a factor in 8, 000 crashes that resulted in 101 deaths and thousands of injuries. Now, the negative trend is one that is finally being addressed, with the Transport Ministry preparing amendments to the traffic laws that should return rights to the police, and stiffen penalties for drivers who cause serious accidents due to negligence or alcohol abuse. Jan Velinger spoke to Vaclav Spicka of the Czech Autoclub, which has long monitored the situation on Czech roads and pushed for safety measures standardized with other European countries.
"We recommend that improvements be made in traffic legislation that would see a broadening of police jurisdiction, as well as other steps taken that include creating a point system for driver's licenses whereby drivers would lose points according to the severity of the transgression: both minor and major transgressions of the law. Also important would be changes in the speed limit outlining stiffer penalties for speed abusers. And - we'd like to see the use children's safety seats made mandatory on both major and minor roads - not just on the highway. Another improvement that we are pushing for would be legislation requiring drivers to have headlights turned on during the day throughout the whole year, not just in the winter months when visibility is lessened. These at least are some of the major points."
You say that there should be a broadening of police rights - as it stands now what are police actually able to do, say at the scene of a car accident?
"The problem is that police can not confiscate the driver's license at the scene, this, combined with the fact that the law doesn't utilize a license point system means that police jurisdiction is heavily limited in this area, which, of course, is to the detriment of road safety overall."
What about cases where the driver has been drinking and has clearly caused the accident?
"The problem there is the same: taking recourse against drunk drivers is equally limited."
Even a driver who has been drinking he won't lose his license on the spot...
"The reality is such that police will forbid the driver from driving that same day, but the fact is that after the police clears up and records the accident there is nothing to prevent the perpetrator from getting behind the wheel and driving away from the scene, license intact. Taking away offenders' licenses under the current system is the competency of the courts, which of course is a long, drawn-out process. And one has to take into account that there are many offenders who don't mind paying fines, and who, retaining their drivers' licenses, continue to break the laws of the road."
What offences do you think should see an immediate revoking of a driver's license?
"Offences for which police should have the right to remand a driver's license will of course have to be very specifically outlined, but they should include callousness on the road threatening the safety of others, the failure to yield, driving through a red light, and drinking behind the wheel."
