An analysis of the influence of legal changes on the number of traffic crashes and fatalities in Poland in 2022
On August 11, 2025, the Roads and Bridges quarterly magazine published an article by our experts: Paweł Tutka, Piotr Kunikowski and Emil Łopata entitled “An analysis of the influence of legal changes on the number of traffic crashes and fatalities in Poland in 2022”.
In 2022, Poland introduced a series of changes to traffic regulations, significantly tightening – mainly financial – penalties for traffic offenses and crimes. The result? A marked decrease in the number of accidents and fatalities compared to 2021. The article presents the results of a statistical analysis showing that the new regulations have significantly reduced the number of accidents and fatalities. It also compares data from Poland with results from neighboring countries, confirming the significant impact of the legal changes on road safety.
Key findings:
- The authors conducted an interrupted time series analysis using the SARIMA model, covering data from 2015 to 2022.
- Changes in Polish law introduced from January 1, 2022 (and subsequent changes from June to September) related to increases in fines, the ability of insurers to access drivers' histories and other tightening measures have had a statistically significant impact on improving road safety in Poland.
Data in numbers:
What does this indicate?
The study points to the real effectiveness of tightened regulations and enhanced enforcement as an important tool in road safety policy.
The results provide valuable support in the debate about next legislative steps and investments in education and infrastructure.
Learn more
We encourage you to read the full article in the latest issue of the quarterly, link to the article.