Roads and Driving rules in Poland versus America

LOL....we were travelling on a road in August, but like you, I have no clue what road it was....then again, it did not happen just one time....it was a frequent occurrence on the roads we travelled.

Ladies, but did you witness any accident on those roads you mention? And why did Polish people drive as you describe? Because they were extremely careless drivers, or because the road was too narrow for such a huge number of cars? Did you ever drive in UK? Did you see how narrow roads they often have there, and what feats the drivers must perform in order to move on, e.g. drive on the sidewalk? That's because the roads are old, built long ago, for horse-carts, not cars. It's so in many places in Europe. Am I right on this one or not, folks?

im not a lady but that doesnt take from the fact that i have witnessed countless accidents, including covered bodies, on these roads. i almost expect to see an accident when driving from one city to another around the tri city

you are right about roads designed for horse carts puzzie, just as others are right about the recklessnes of many polish drivers

As a matter of fact, I witnessed 2 accidents on the roads. As for the roads being too narrow, that was not the case in either instance......there was more than enough room for two lanes of cars so in fact, the drivers were being wreckless and careless by trying to overtake other cars when they should not be doing so.


All the more reason to drive with care and caution.....

Guys, why don't I see all those things you allegedly see when I drive in Poland? I mean many roads are not perfect, but as for those allegedly exceptionally reckless drivers, I can't say I've seen more of them in Poland than e.g. in Canada or US. In the UK, true, people drive more calmly than in many other countries. That's my experience.


- Preaches who? In America, your native country, you've got much more car accidents and reckless driving than in Poland. Darius from Canada quoted the stats - remember?

:)

I've seen a few accidents, but no more than here in the US. Our youth drive more recklessly than anyone else IMO. They all have these "fast & furious" cars and think they're too good to crash.... I see people crashing into stores and houses all the time. As far as drivinfg rules goes, I think that there's more overtaking going on in Poland. here in NY-NJ passing isn't allowed unless you're upstate in the country. The most reckless people i see in Poland are the Russian truckdrivers overtaking other trucks passing in between 2 trucks...crazy. I also experience more courteous people in Poland that move over to the shoulder so you can pass. They don't do that here in America....they'd rather you try to pass and crash. Here more people drive and do stupid things out of spite.

but puzzie, you find it very difficult to accept anything you perceive as negative said about poland


i have also noticed this - more so than in the states

Posted by Ranj:


One who is a cautious and courteous driver, that's who! :)

- You exaggerate. I defend Poland only when there's just criticism and picking, without any positve stuff to counterbalance. I see the crappy side of Poland quite clear too, don't worry. Do you see equally clearly the crappy side of England? I sincerely doubt it.

Zgubiony's opinion actually is almost exact as mine. Thanks, Zgubiony.

How strict are they on drinking and driving in Poland.

Its costs a small fortune if you get busted here.

Our relatives would not have even one beer, and get behind the wheel on our trip this past summer. Common sense, but also a Zero Tolerance policy on part of the authorities.

sounds like the best move to make then:)

Its 0.8 % B.A.C. in Illinois which is like having 2 beers in 1 hour.

- And still you've got more car accidents and crazy driving than we do. In spite of your superior roads.... What would that mean?
:)

Did you take into consideration that the population in the US is larger than in Poland

And that most accidents are caused by illegal aliens, who don't even have a driver's license?

And the average American would likely drive many more miles than the average Pole in a year? American Urban sprawl, poor public transit systems in general, family road trips, long commutes, dispersed families... where as in Poland, cities are set up to allow the average person walk to the local spożywczy, they have better public transit and families closer together....

ive spent enough time outside of england to be able to look at it obectively

- Oh boy, the usual jingoistic anti-immigrant crap. Coming from an immigrant (Polish) or descendant of (Polish) immigrants herself?


- You've got more car accidents than us by statistic comparison.

prove it!;)

hands over eyes remember....so no....I didn't "see" any accidents while there. And I will admit my cousin did seem competent behind the wheel....his wife and kids were all sitting calmly the whole way.

As for the condition of the roads. Have you ever been to Boston? Now there are some tiny roads built long ago (yes i know not as long ago as poland) made for horse-carts and not cars - especially not the huge as SUVs that many Americans are fond of driving. Add to that a constant state of construction, badly defined detours and roads that are riddled with pot holes. While I was in Poland all the roads that I drove on seemed to be pretty well laid out and in good repair. So a case could be made that Polish roads are better than roads in some American cities.


I noticed that too. People were much more likely to let a car cut in front of them in Poland that here in the states. Boston has some very aggressive drivers and not the best roads to drive on which don't help. Add to that the SUVs in which people think they are invincible just because they have a huge car...most of my near misses the last few years has been due to an SUV cutting me off because they a)don't see me or b) just don't care because I drive a tiny little Nissan that their car can crush without blinking an eye.

Puzzler, with respect, when was the last time that you were driving in Poland?

are you saying that puzzler is an old man and he lost the licence


anybody remember when polish used to be illegals too?
i do remember a few when i use to live in london in 2000
ohhh puzzler , (talking about london) is poland looking like london now? a little more darker....wait a few years more , the muticultured arrive!!!!!!!!!!,
is that true my dear puzzler let go to leave michal alone in his own world when one time he use to remember ,,,,bla bla bla bla , and let go to have a few fight you and me like in the old times

Just about a 0 tolerance. My gf wont let me drive after 1 beer. I've also been givena difficult time getting the keys if I've had a lot of vodka the night before. Very strict with her family. I'd imagine some others to be just as cautious.


Boston is crazy with driving and traffic. I'll take my NYC anyday ;)

apparently there are 24 points on a polish driving licence... renewed annually

can any one confirm this?

Me too! At least NYC has nicely laid out streets and fines if people block the box...so they don't do it. Here they don't care and block roads. When I drive in Boston I'm a bundle of nerves afterwards.....yet its usually smooth sailing in NYC. Well, not including all the traffic that is. ;-)

No my Spanish friend, it was just a friendly question:O)
Espana, are you trying to stir something :O)

In the US street lights go from Green to yellow to red. Then red to green. In poland it goes from red to yellow to green. How on earth can you slow down from a stop?

^^ I don't want to be resurrecting an older thread, but when I read this, I just had to respond. The reason why in Poland, and in European countries in general for that matter, the light goes from red to yellow to green (well actually, red together with yellow, then just green), is to notify drivers that the light is about to turn green.

Considering that the vast majority of cars in Europe have manual transmissions, during the yellow light they can prepare to move the car by shifting the car into gear, so when the light turns green, they're ready to go. It's sort of a courtesy light. In the States, the vast majority of cars have automatic transmissions, and so moving the car from a stop entails only pressing the gas pedal. No extra steps required. So such a courtesy light is unnecessary (at least so Americans think), because you just hit the gas when the light turns green.

Your experience is fine, but stats show that Poland has slightly more traffic fatalities than the US (per capita) and almost twice as many as Canada.

Also, take into the account the difference in the sheer volume of drivers on the road in the US, Canada and Poland.

This is so very funny and true. I thought the same thing. I guess it's a 'warning' that the light will turn green soon.

Fact is - if an American driver is in Poland - Polish drivers seem crazy to them. They drive EXTREMELY fast in the left lane on ALL roads. Speed limits are not even suggestions - they are wasted sign metal that could be recycled - and if you are going slow in the left lane (like 130km/hr in a 130km/hr zone) - they run you over.


Let's get the facts straight for BAC laws. It's 0.02 in Poland. Granted, this is about one beer - but it's not zero tolerance. And my guess is if you get busted - they are alot worse on you than US authorities.

when i went to north america last year i tried some polish driving there. needless to say i brought many close to heartattacks for what would be considered normal here. also needless to say i smartened up pretty damn quickly and realized a driver has to take into account other drivers on the road and their ability to react. try telling that to someone here who thinks it's ok to go over 180 km/hr because they're a good driver, it's like they can't fathom the idea that the faster they go, the less time everyone else has to react.