Due to recently observedincrease in international trade in goods on the Polish-Belarusian border crossings, the Customs Service takes the measures necessary to maintain the flow of traffic.
Bearing in mind thesafety on the access roads to border crossings in Kuźnica, Bobrowniki and Kukuryki (terminal in Koroszczyn) special buffer zones were launched periodically for trucks leaving the Poland in December 2013. These actions are based on the concept prepared by the Customs Service in 2008 so called buffering.
They allow you toorganize the queue, improve traffic safety and give drivers the opportunity to rest. This solution also prevents potential blocking of traffic in Sokolka - a town located on National Road No. 19, approx. 18 km away from the border crossing in Kuźnica.
When the number oftrucks approaching the border crossing will increase significantly (more than 550 vehicles before Kuznica, 450 vehicles before Bobrowniki and over 700 vehicles in outside the terminal Koroszczyn) the line of cars is divided into two parts - the two buffers. Vehicles in the first buffer are gradually cleared, and truck traffic in the second buffer is held.
The decision to startbuffering is taken when the above described conditions occur and is coordinated by the Regional Centres of Emergency Management with the participation of cooperating services, among others, - Police, Border Guard, Customs Service and the Road Transport Inspection.
The principles of buffer zones:
NATIONALROADNO19TOROADBORDER CROSSING IN KUŹNICA
-The firstbuffer zone extends from the entrance of the border crossing to the administrative boundaries of Sokolka.
-The beginning ofthe second buffer zone is designated by setting the traffic light before Sokolka (going from Bialystok).
-Estimatedtime of customs clearance of all vehicles in the first buffer zone is approximately 24 hours.
-In the secondbuffer zone traffic is held, allowing drivers a few hours rest.
-Every fewhours, following the traffic lights, part of the vehicle enters the first zone.
NATIONALROAD NO 65 TO ROAD BORDER CROSSINGin Bobrowniki:
-The firstbuffer zone ends at about 4.5 km from the entrance to the border crossing.
-The secondzone, designated by a specially positioned traffic light, starts at the end point of the first zone.
-The estimatedwaiting time of vehicles in the first zone is approximately 12 hours.
-In the secondbuffer zone the traffic is held, allowing drivers a few hours rest.
-Every fewhours following the traffic light, part of the vehicle enters the first zone.
ROADNO 68 and K-2 TO THE BORDER CROSSINGS in Kukuryki (terminal Koroszczyn):
-The firstbuffer zone extends from the entrance to the terminal in Koroszczyn to Wolka Dobrynska. There are about350 trucks in the first zone.
-The beginning ofthe second buffer zone is designated by the patrol of one of the services.
-Estimatedtime of clearance all vehicles from the first buffer zone is up to 12 hours.
-In the secondbuffer zone traffic is held, allowing drivers to rest.
- After clearing out the firstbuffer zone it is filled up with vehicles from the second zones.
The services subordinate to Voivodesand Border Guard, Police, Customs, Road Transport Inspection which patrol the road before border crossing points also participate in the organization of buffer zones.
Buffer zonesbefore border crossing points in Kuźnica, Bobrowniki and Kukuryki were positively evaluated by truck drivers waiting to leave Poland, the major advantage is the opportunity to rest without having to watch over and drive up every few minutes towards the terminal.
Cooperatingservices inform drivers on regular basis about the buffers. Relevant information is also on the websites of customs chambers, www.granica.gov.pl and other services.
Servicesmay decide about buffering a queue also when the number of vehicles waiting to cross the border is smaller than specified in theassumptions.