Initiative to strengthen driver accountability
A campaign has been launched in Poland aimed at significantly strengthening criminal liability for traffic rule violations that result in fatalities. The petitioners propose legally establishing the possibility of imposing a sentence of up to 20 years' imprisonment in four specific cases. These circumstances include exceeding the permitted speed by more than 50 km/h, being involved in a traffic accident while under a court-issued driving ban, involvement in an accident during illegal racing, and fatally running over a pedestrian on a crosswalk or sidewalk.
High-profile court rulings as a catalyst for change
The civic initiative has gained widespread attention against the backdrop of several high-profile court verdicts. Specifically, on 21 October 2026, Sebastian Majchak was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for an accident on the A1 motorway, which resulted in the death of a family of three. Earlier, in July this year, Lukasz Jak received a 20-year prison sentence for a fatal traffic accident on the Lazienkowska highway in Warsaw. It is worth noting that both verdicts are currently not final.
Appeal to the Senate and signature collection
The petition is officially addressed to the President of the Polish Senate. The initiators of the campaign are convinced that the introduction of stricter sanctions will become an effective tool for protecting the safety of road users. At the time of publication, the document had collected 8,190 signatures, while the target figure is 9,000.
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