Member of the Citizens' Coalition from Poznań territory Katarzyna Kierzek-Koperska (as she besides writes on her website “ecologist, animal rights activist and climate change activist, panelist of the Women's Congress) proposed a fresh driver control mechanics to reduce the number of people driving without rights.
In her opinion, the verification of a driving licence for the acquisition of fuel could become an effective tool to destruct those who should not drive. However, the thought creates mixed reactions, both among experts and society.
The MP took the initiative after a series of tragic accidents caused by drivers without permission. 1 of the loudest cases was the case of Łukasz Z., who, despite 5 judicial bans on driving, inactive sat behind the wheel and yet caused a fatal accident in Warsaw. akin situations have given emergence to discussion on how to enforce judicial bans more effectively and to destruct traffic violations.
In the opinion of the Member, fuel stations could play an crucial function in reducing the number of specified cases, acting as an additional checkpoint.
"No vehicle moves without fuel, so the fuel station is simply a peculiar place in this area," argued Kierzek-Koperska.
The driving licence verification mechanics would operate on a paper scan basis before payment for fuel. The procedure could run automatically, both at the cash registry and at self-service terminals. The messenger points to a German cigaret sales model, where machines require scanning a paper confirming the maturity of the buyer. On the same basis, verification of driving licences could be introduced before the acquisition of fuel.
In addition, the MP suggests that in future the strategy could besides include sobriety checks on fuel distributors. This would be a preventive solution, eliminating a individual under the influence of alcohol from the movement even before starting the engine.
Although the proposal aims to improve road safety, it raises serious concerns among road law experts and experts. The Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of Digital Affairs have not yet addressed the idea, but any experts already point to possible difficulties in implementing it.
The implementation of specified a strategy would require the construction of an infrastructure enabling automatic verification of the driving licence at each fuel station in Poland. This would not only mean additional costs for station owners, but besides possible problems with integration into state databases.
Experts point out that people who repeatedly violate regulations and drive vehicles without a driver's licence can easy find ways around the fresh system. The simplest solution would be simply to ask individual else to refuel the vehicle.
Some critics stress that the work to verify driving licences before buying fuel can be seen as excessive interference in civilian liberties. There are concerns that the introduction of specified a strategy could open the way for further regulations interfering with citizens' privacy.
It is unclear whether the fuel station owners would have the right to process the individual data of customers and whether specified verification would be without prejudice to existing individual data protection rules (GDPR). The question besides arises as to who would have access to the position of the buyer's driving licence and what institutions would be liable for supervising this system.
