Road safety for vulnerable road users

Increasing road safety is one of key elements for ensuring high quality of life in the city. People spend a lot of time outdoors - and whether they are walking to a shop, driving to work, riding a bike to school or going by bus to meet friends - they are all road users.

In Poland 72% of all road accidents happen in urban areas. 45% of road accident victims are vulnerable road users, that is cyclists (11 %) and pedestrians (34% - the highest in EU). In high risk areas road safety measures such as limiting traffic speed, reconstruction of intersections, building traffic lights, pedestrian shelters, guard rails are necessary. But places other than those also need to be recognised as potentially unsafe and have prevention measures introduced. Building cycling routes makes travel by bicycle safer. Educating cyclists on how to become more visible and safer on roads is also very important. Ensuring road safety for pedestrians must be a priority, i.e. by introducing speed limit zones or increasing safety in the recreational places.

Gdynia is an example of a city working on ensuring safety in areas which still have not been converted into pedestrian zones. One such place is Kościuszki Square - a tourist attraction and the land- mark of Gdynia. Unfortunately, cars park there along the pavements (it is legal in Poland if 1.5 m of the pavement is left for pedestrians) making the square potentially unsafe (picture 1). People walking from the centre of the square - where there are benches, a fountain and flowers, across the road - to the restaurants, shops, cinema,yacht clubsand museum ships berthed in the harbour, might not be seen by or see an approaching car. Anyone who comes there for a walk, or to relax, including children, might be off guard and walk onto the road. Car drivers looking for a place to park might not concentrate on pedestrians, while others drive through too fast. Both parties can cause an accident.

As a public space the square should be green and beautiful but most of all safe. Pedestrians must be visible and must themselves see potential danger. We will therefore prevent cars parking along pavements of the square by putting flower pots there (picture 2). Thus, the square will be a safer place to visit and will regain its full attractiveness.