“There were fewer accidents overall, fewer injured and fewer people with serious injuries,” Klimczak said, adding that new traffic regulations entering into force this year should further improve road safety.
He pointed to regulations adopted last year allowing authorities to revoke driver's licenses from motorists who exceed speed limits by more than 50 kph on single-carriageway roads outside built-up areas.
Officials hope the rules will deliver measurable safety gains in 2026, particularly on rural roads.
Klimczak urged drivers to slow down in all conditions, especially during adverse weather, and warned truck and delivery vehicle drivers to remove snow and ice from vehicle roofs to prevent hazards.
He also highlighted the dangers at road-rail crossings, announcing a joint investment program with Polish rail authorities aimed at eliminating particularly dangerous crossings.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Stanisław Bukowiec said infrastructure projects such as new bypasses, sidewalks and cycling paths, combined with public awareness campaigns, had contributed to improved safety.
Poland aims to eliminate road deaths by 2050 under the "Vision Zero" program, originally developed in Sweden, Bukowiec said.
Robert Koźlak, head of the National Road Transport Inspectorate (GITD), stressed the importance of enforcing speed limits.
He said Poland currently operates 623 automated speed and red-light enforcement sites, with more than 100 additional devices to be installed this year, including 40 average-speed monitoring systems on expressways.
Preliminary police data show about 21,000 road accidents occurred in Poland last year, leaving 1,651 people dead and more than 24,700 injured.
Police also stopped more than 95,000 drunk drivers, an increase from the previous year, which authorities attributed to a higher number of roadside checks.