European funds for road rescue

The EU funds significantly contribute to improving safety on Polish roads. Undoubtedly, apart from co-financing the construction or modernization of new, safe roads, the component of effective rescue operations is an important element of the entire road safety system. Equipping competent services responsible for road rescue with proven, modern and efficient equipment certainly increases the effectiveness, quality and speed of rescue operations in road transport.

The beneficiary of the EU funds under the signed contract for co-financing is the Commander-in-Chief of the State Fire Service.

The total value of the project is approx. PLN 293 million, of which the EU support for the project will amount to almost PLN 249 million. The implementation will cover a period of 2 years and will last until the fourth quarter of 2023.

The project, to be implemented by the National Headquarters of the State Fire Service, is another example of the EU support for activities aimed at improving road safety. The purchased equipment will increase the mobility, reaction time and efficiency of firefighters in Poland, which has a significant impact on increasing the level of safety among pedestrians and drivers – says Joanna Lech, Acting Director of the Center for EU Transport Projects.

About the project

The project will be implemented under measure 3.1 Development of the TEN-T road and air network, priority axis III: Development of the TEN-T road network and multimodal transport of the Operational Program Infrastructure and Environment 2014-2020.

We use European funds to support technical rescue services to improve road safety. The equipment that firefighters will buy thanks to the money from this project will save lives and protect the health of road accident participants. The State Fire Service will be able to reach the site more efficiently and quickly. Modern equipment will save precious seconds, which often determine the life and health of people – said Katarzyna Zielińska-Heitkotter, deputy director of the Department of Infrastructure Programs of the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy.

The subject of the Project is to equip the State Fire Service with equipment to conduct rescue operations in road transport. As part of the Project, specialized equipment and rescue cars will be purchased to improve road safety in a total amount of 289 items, including:

• medium rescue and firefighting vehicle with increased potential for road rescue (basic standard), 4×4 drive – 7 units;
• medium rescue and firefighting vehicle with increased potential for road rescue (GBA – first-drive standard), 4×4 drive – 57 units;
• medium rescue and firefighting vehicle with increased potential for road rescue (GBA – first-drive standard), 4×2 drive – 15 unit;
• medium rescue and firefighting vehicle with a compressed foam system (GBA – first-drive standard), 4×4 drive – 16 units;
• medium rescue and firefighting vehicle with a compressed foam system (GBA – first-drive standard), 4×2 drive – 11 units;
• medium rescue and firefighting vehicle with a cutting function (GBA – first-drive standard), 4×4 drive – 14 units;
• heavy rescue and firefighting vehicle with increased potential for road rescue (GCBA – basic standard), 4×4 drive – 37 units;
• heavy rescue and firefighting vehicle with increased potential for road rescue (GCBA – basic standard), 4×2 drive – 7 units;
• heavy rescue and firefighting vehicle with increased potential for road rescue (GCBA – first-time standard), 4×4 drive – 36 units;
• minibus for transporting up to 9 people including the driver – 22 units;
• light supply vehicle with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 t – 25 units;
• supply truck with a load capacity of min. 6 t – 5 units;
• medium technical rescue vehicle (with a hydraulic crane) – 5 units;
• light reconnaissance and rescue vehicle for SGRT – 25 units;
• light reconnaissance and rescue vehicle with off-road drive for SGRChem-Eko – 7 units.

The purchased equipment will be distributed to units of the State Fire Service throughout the country.

The signed contract for co-financing from the European funds of another element of the road safety system is an important step towards the development of road rescue in Poland. Appropriate retrofitting of services in this area is crucial for them to be able to effectively carry out rescue operations on Polish roads – said Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Rafał Weber.

The main goal of the project

The main goal of the Project is the optimal effectiveness of rescue operations in road transport executed by the State Fire Service in Poland. This goal will be achieved by:

• increasing the scope of equipping the State Fire Service for conducting rescue operations in road transport;
• reducing the effects of hazards on people, animals, the environment or property;
• shortening the time and improving the effectiveness of rescue operations.

Project details

Beneficiary: Commander-in-Chief of the State Fire Service

Project number and name: POIS.03.01.00-00-0072/22. Improvement of the road rescue system – stage V.

Total value of the project: PLN 292,860,000.00

Eligible expenses: PLN 292,860,000.00

Value of the EU funding: PLN 248,931,000.00