In the last year, the number of road events in Gdynia reached 2.5 thousand, which prompted Councillor of the Civic Platform Łukasz Piesiewicz to present proposals to improve road safety. Its suggestions include stepping up monitoring of drivers and involving residents in reporting road irregularities and parking.
Problem: Road Pirates and No consequence to Offences
– The number of road events in Gdynia reached 2.5 1000 in the past year. The vast majority of them were due to excessive overspeed by the drivers. The problem can be addressed – said Councillor Łukasz Piesiewicz.
The councillor recalled that the Tristar camera strategy – the Integrated Traffic Management strategy in Tricity, which monitors the fluidity of traffic on the main routes, is already in operation in the city. Although the strategy has been operating for 10 years, according to Piesiewicz it is not full used.
“The Tristar strategy sees road pirates, but nobody does anything with this knowledge. Road pirates in turn slow down erstwhile they see police. Just connect these 2 dots – argued the councilman.
More police patrols in problematic areas
One of the solutions proposed by the councilman is to increase the number of police patrols in places where velocity is most common.
– A patrol like this could work for 15 minutes. It's adequate time for drivers to start reducing their urges and take their ft off the gas," said Piesiewicz.
However, 2 aspects request to be taken into account. Firstly, police are struggling with staff shortages across the country, which may limit the anticipation of specified an idea. Secondly, the effectiveness of specified actions is questionable, as after the patrol leaves, more drivers can return to breaking regulations.
Reporting as a tool for improving order
Another controversial proposal by the councillor is to encourage residents to study incorrect parking and another offences.
The councilman suggests that the Digital Resident Assistant app can be utilized for this, which presently allows reporting harm to infrastructure, faults or vandalism. It would be possible to include photos and locations as evidence of violations.
– Let's remember that since 2018 the municipal defender on the basis of the photograph documentation can issue a mandate – Piesiewicz stressed.
In his view, specified an initiative could importantly increase the number of mandates, which would reduce the number of offences in the long term.
– due to the fact that if individual knows that they will inevitably get a ticket for parking in places not intended for this, for driving around greens in Gdynia, they will not do it again – the councillor said.
Is that an effective approach?
The councillor's proposals give emergence to mixed reactions. On the 1 hand, the fight against road pirates and incorrect parking is essential to improve safety and order in urban space. On the another hand, critics point out that encouraging residents to study can have a negative impact on social relations.
In addition, although the usage of the Tristar strategy and the increase of police patrols seem logical, applicable problems, specified as deficiency of staff in the police, may impede the implementation of these plans.
Summary
W In 2024, Gdynia reported more than 2.5 1000 road events, making the problem of road pirates an urgent challenge. Alderman Łukasz Piesiewicz's proposals include the usage of technology and the engagement of residents in the fight against offences. Although these initiatives can produce affirmative results, their effectiveness depends on the appropriate implementation and cooperation of urban services and residents. However, the key question remains whether specified actions will affect the long-term simplification in the number of offences and the improvement of relations among the local community.
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