Shine but dim! On Saturday there will be fines!

Dull lampshades, burned out or incorrectly inserted bulbs, illegal substitutes are only some of the objections to vehicle lighting, which were noted by police officers of the Road Traffic Department of the Warsaw Police Headquarters and experts of the Motor Transport Institute. The control activities were carried out on one of Warsaw's streets as part of the nationwide campaign "Your lights - Our safety". This coming Saturday, for the last time this year, we can check the condition of the vehicle's lighting for free. The police have announced increased checks on vehicles.

Lighting of vehicles traveling on Polish roads often raises a number of reservations. According to the data of the Motor Transport Institute (ITS), as many as 98 percent. Polish drivers are blinded by other cars, and 40 percent. complains that their lights are too dim. ITS analyzes show that only about 30 percent of vehicles - of all vehicles traveling on the road - have correctly or only acceptable headlights.

These negative statistics were confirmed by road checks that ITS conducted with the Road Traffic Department of the Capital Police Headquarters (KSP). Both organoleptic tests and precise measurements showed significant deficiencies in the lighting of vehicles detained for inspection.

- In one of the vehicles, the headlamp lenses were so dull that after dark, they barely allowed to see the obstacle from a distance of several meters. In the second, the bulbs were inserted incorrectly, and in the other, they were burned out. However, the biggest problem was cars equipped with illegal bulb replacements, which can shine strong light close to the vehicle, but blind drivers coming from the opposite direction - lists Dr. Tomasz Targosiński from the Motor Transport Institute.

Recent KSP and ITS studies and their earlier editions have confirmed that the vast majority of inspected vehicles have lights in poor condition. The problem concerns mainly their incorrect alignment, but also, to a lesser extent, the quality of the headlamp beam.

- Our analysis showed that the lights of vehicles stopped for inspection had values ​​at the level of only 10-40 percent. minimum required by law. This means that the safe traveling speed with such lights at night, even with the correct alignment, does not exceed 30-50 km / h! With such a quality of vehicle lighting, the driver cannot count on the fact that he will notice, for example, a pedestrian in good time, even wearing reflective elements - adds Dr. Tomasz Targosiński.

It is important because it is the fall and winter season, when the night is much longer than the day, and the significant travel time by car takes place after dark. During this period, the quality of vehicle lighting is of particular importance.

- Among other things, this parameter of vehicles has been pointed out by the traffic policemen of the Warsaw Police Headquarters for years. Driving with faulty or illegal lighting, in addition to endangering yourself and others, also exposes the driver to a fine and the loss of the registration certificate. The problem is of particular importance now, when dusk falls earlier and visibility is also difficult during the day, e.g. due to unfavorable weather conditions. Working lights and their proper use are a guarantee of road safety. They minimize the risk of a road accident, because the most tragic consequences occur most often on unlit roads at night - says the young inspector. Piotr Jakubczak from the Road Traffic Department of the Warsaw Police Headquarters.

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In order to improve safety, traffic policemen throughout the country carry out control and preventive actions in terms of the technical condition of vehicles. Every year, it is several hundred thousand routine inspections, which take into account, inter alia, state of lighting.

- Incorrect lighting of the car not only has a negative impact on driving comfort, but can also lead to tragic consequences on the roads. This year alone, the share of incorrectly set lights in road incidents amounts to as many as 4 cases. Therefore, this year we are also continuing the nationwide campaign "Your lights - Our safety", which aims to draw the attention of drivers to the dangers of improper lighting of vehicles - explains Commissioner Robert Opas from the Road Traffic Office of the Police Headquarters.

The correct operation of the lamps depends, apart from their general technical condition, on the correct setting of the cut-off line as well as the distribution and intensity of the emitted light. Especially in autumn and winter, when visibility worsens, vehicle lights play a key role.

- Lighting elements require professional assessment and therefore, as part of the campaign, nationwide "open days" are carried out at vehicle inspection stations, operating under the patronage of the Motor Transport Institute, affiliated to the Polish Chamber of Vehicle Inspection Stations, belonging to the Polish Motor Association, operating in the network DEKRA, as well as at other stations that have declared their willingness to participate in the campaign - says Mikołaj Krupiński from ITS.

As part of their daily service, road traffic policemen carry out control and preventive actions, during which they pay special attention to the vehicle's lights.

This Saturday, December 4, for the last time in this edition of the "Your lights - Our safety" campaign, drivers will have the opportunity to check the vehicle lights for free. The Yanosik application will "lead" its users to the nearest control station supporting the project.

At the same time, the police will also carry out checks on the lighting of vehicles and, as announced by the uniform, fines may be issued for the lack of lights, their poor technical condition or poor setting.

The "Your lights - Our safety" campaign was initiated by the Road Traffic Office of the Polish Police Headquarters together with the Motor Transport Institute. The partners of the project are: the National Road Safety Council, the Polish Chamber of Vehicle Control Stations, the Polish Motor Association, DEKRA, the Łukasiewicz Research Network - Automotive Industry Institute, as well as the Neptis SA company - the operator of the Yanosik communicator known among drivers and the Screen Network SA company Duration of the campaign - 23.10 - 15.12.2021

The list of stations participating in the campaign can be found on the websites of Police units all over Poland, as well as on its.waw.pl and on the websites of the campaign partners.

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