As many as 41 people died  in Poland with 549 injured in almost 400 car accidents over the final weekend of the holiday period.

“The death toll is a bit lower than in the corresponding period last year but this year more people were injured,” says Krzysztof Hajdas from the Police Headquarters.

Policemen also caught many drunk behind the wheel. “In spite of our appeals as many as 1,500 drivers decided to drink and drive,” says Hajdas.

 “The most common reason of accidents was excessive speed or forcing the right of way,” he added.

Most of the weekend victims were passengers, police statistics show. As many as 14 passengers, 13 pedestrians, 12 drivers and two motorcyclists died on Polish roads last weekend.

The “Safe weekend” police operation failed to make a difference with as the number of accidents remained almost the same as in the previous years. During the last holiday weekend of 2009 as many as 43 people died and 524 were wounded and in 2008 the number of victims amounted to 48. (mg)

Source: PAP