NIK Report: Hazardous transports are an accident waiting to happen

The Supreme Board of Inspection (NIK) has warned that the national road and railway transport system is a ticking ecological time bomb. At least 60% of inspected vehicles and 30% of trains carrying hazardous materials did not meet legal safety standards. The news is confirmed by police random checks on transports of inflammable, radioactive substances and poisonous gases. According to NIK inspectors 20% of trucks examined were not properly marked and some did not even carry proper warning signs, fire extinguishers, or even basic emergency equipment. The situation with railway transport has improved over the last year as 25% of trains carrying hazardous materials from Ukraine were stopped and returned at the border. (Gazeta Wyborcza, p. 9; www.polskieradio.pl) J.K.