A cyclist riding against traffic collided with a drunk taxi driver in Warsaw’s city center on March 13.
Collision Details
On Friday, March 13, at approximately 6:30 PM in Warsaw’s Śródmieście district on Nowogrodzka Street at number 16, a cyclist collided with a Toyota taxi. Preliminary findings indicate the woman was riding against traffic on the roadway, and after the incident, it was discovered the car driver was intoxicated.
Traffic Violations
The incident occurred on the section between Parkingowa and Krucza streets. Participants were traveling in opposite directions. The cyclist was moving from Parkingowa toward Krucza despite no cycling being permitted in that direction. The taxi driver, a 63-year-old Polish citizen, was properly traveling from Krucza toward Parkingowa.
Immediate Aftermath
Police and a medical rescue team were called to the scene. Tests showed the cyclist was not injured. However, witnesses and the cyclist herself detected a strong odor of alcohol from the taxi driver, who reportedly had difficulty maintaining balance.
Legal Consequences
Breath tests confirmed the driver had almost 2.4 per mille of alcohol in his exhaled air. The man was detained and the vehicle towed to a police impound lot. Further proceedings involving him are to be conducted after he sobers up. While the taxi driver will be held responsible for driving under the influence, the cyclist was penalized for causing the traffic accident by riding against traffic flow.
