Whats driving like in Poland?

I've got to drive southeast of krakow with wifey and my youngest...............
is it as bad as i'm led to believe, should i get a certificate from the lunatic asilum. or just close my eyes and go for it?...

If you've had the experience do tell.............

I was just on the road in that area about 3 weeks ago, around Lublin, Zakopane and Krakow. I've seen some drivers going really fast, they like to pass whenever they feel like it and the incoming traffic moves to the side of the road to let them pass. Some are always in a hurry and get in front of you. You must have good brakes. There were road constructions. But in general you shouldn't worry too much, it's not that bad, but watch out for those few "crazy ones".

Not so many motorways here. The roads are like A and B roads in UK.

The Police will enjoy giving you an on the spot fine if they can find a reason to do so.

Some cobbled streets here. That's because they are hard wearing, not old fashioned.

You might need winter tyres [in winter]

Petrol stations are the same as in the UK.

More people die on the roads here on November 1st than any other day. [This is not a joke]

The temperature is dropping here so you might get black ice in three or four weeks.

What would be a respectable bribe in sticky situations?

I heard that too.

All Saint's day isn't it?

Be back home by then..........come home the day before.

Having said that Krysia..I will be making some visits to graves while I'm there, place some flowers and so on.

I want help with wording on the card's to say "from all relatives overseas, rest in peace"

Don't try and bribe the Police. They get more smartie points for collecting fines. Plus if you are speeding they may have you on camera. If you are unlucky any fine will be about 200zł

I don't think it's really going to happen though. You'll be OK.

If there is a radar trap further down the road, on-coming traffic will flash their headlights at you, just to let you know.

when driving in polish madness i keep wodka and marlboro in the back of the car for sticky situations

Is that even legal out there? lol x

Driving in Italy is worse than the UK and Poland put together.

Oh are you sure about that driving in central london duiring rush hour?

Can't be as bad as NYC.....lol can it?

Never driven in the UK so I wouldn't know. But I have in PL and It

Urmm not to sure never been to NYC unfortunately x

Forget the stereotype.

Polish drivers used to drive around in little Fiats. They were easy to repair and inexpensive. With cheap cars on bad roads no-one cared.

Now we have good roads and car owners drive expensive cars.

Result : Polish drivers these days care about their cars and are [quite] careful drivers.

There is a problem with sign-posts, which has become a bit of a joke here. Make sure that you have a map with you, if you don't know the road.

HWY 10 isn't so good in PL. Saw a few British autos wile driving down from Chłopy and they had the most difficult time passing due to the driver being on the wrong side. Quite funny to watch :)

I have settled on a hire car from krakow, wifey won't let me take her car there, She's got brains thats why I married her.

Can anyone tell me if there is a protocol at round abouts, car already on or car wanting to get on ?

Car already on has the right of way. You have to yield entering these unless there's a light

Good thats same as here.................any other perculiar things to be known?.

Drive with your lights on. Especially when there's a lot of passing going on. Also, some of the streets are lined with trees. It's like tree ally..don't know why they do this, so it's good to have them on so others can see you.

It'll be interesting if you've never driven there :)

It'll be the first time in poland. Don't mind driving aroud out there ,but I'd like to come back and tell a tale or two..........

I have driven there on two occasions, sure you have to be more careful in a strange environment plus being from Ireland.

It is a little more risky, but you try and do what the locals do, bearing in mind you won't be able to explain what happened to any friendly traffic cop!

I have to be honest and say that I don't feel particularly safe on Polish roads.

Many Polish drivers have this terrifying tendency to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic. They do this naturally with no thoughts that they are taking a risk.

I've lost count the number of times I have been having a conversation with the driver when he suddenly decides to pull out and overtake a vehicle whilst another car is hurtling towards us in the opposite lane only for my driver to swerve back into the correct lane at the last second. During this time my driver is still casually telling me about the cheap DVD players he saw advertised at Tescos whilst I am trying to recover from a near death experience !!!

Wroclaw makes a good point though and maybe the times are changing with better roads and better cars.

Wozzy,

Bring a coat. We have frost, but it does warm up during the day.

Got that wroclaw, been watching the weather....thanks.

Watch out for those cops standing with binoculars to see if you have you're buckled up.

Hey Spiritus,

I know exactly what you mean! Polish drivers tend to have this kamakaze type philosophy a bit like 'well im gonna overtake and someone has gotta move out of the way but it sure as hell aint gonna be me ' so you do find that all the oncoming traffic moves over to acommodate these idiots - god knows why they drive like this because they only manage to get 100yds up the road further than you and risk everyones safety doing this - ill be honest, ive been driving for 15 years and its scary driving in Poland. Firstly I have to do the driving on the wrong side of the road thing which Im no good at and secondly you have to negotiate the big potholes in the road plus the kamokaze idiots ! Oh and when you are a passenger in a taxi (taxis are great in general as the guy will do anything for you) - the guy barely looks where hes going he seems to have this 6th sense and the minute gaps that he manages to fit through....say no more!

Oh and the roads are terrible in general - full of great big potholes and lopsided and those cobbled streets - very attractive but by the time youve been 100yds on one of them you want to throw up due to vibration sickness lol

Sorry folks - I do love Poland...just giving my opinion

Not all polish drivers, but you are right, there are a lot of them here.


Yep, the roads here are generally terrible. It's cheaper to put a sign warning about the potholes, etc than actually try to fix them. But hey, look on the bright side, after Poland will get over with you, you will be driving like a bloody Schumacher...Or should I say Kubica? :)

It is crazy like in Quebec city driving... especially on the high speed highway... in polish autostrada!!!

.....and it doesn't help when prostitutes parade their bodies by the side of the motorway. How's a guy supposed to maintain his concentration ?? :)

LOl i've never seen a prostitute by the road side in Poland anywhere... but ya that's funny....