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Stiffer traffic rules in Poland? [32]
These include stopping to allow pedestrians cross the road, increasing maximum traffic fines from 500 to 1,500 zł,
First one already is law, the second is a good idea - as it stands, 500zl isn't discouraging anyone. I certainly am not discouraged by the prospect of 4 points and a 100zl fine for doing 70km/h in a 50.
making the changing of winter and summer tyres obligatory
The German law makes sense - in wintry conditions, you need winter tyres.
and requiring windscreen stickers showing that the motorist has insurance.
No need. Cars must be insured anyway.
The holiday weekends are a complete joke. They should start by introducing much stiffer punishments during these times - drink driving should be automatic jail time for *any* adult in the car (that would put a stop to women getting in the car with the children with a drunk) for instance, and punishments should be automatically doubled. It would go a hell of a long way to cut down on the problems during those times.
But yes, the total lack of enforcement is the biggest cause. I've lost count of the amount of laws that I've broken on purpose and have never been stopped - about the only thing I obey is speed limits in obvious villages on main roads. But that 70km/h limit on the way to work? Hahaha.
One of the games Polish drivers play is to push you from behind to go faster so you take the ticket, if someone plays this game on you allow him to overtake and then sit on his tail, so he takes the ticket.
Oh yes. And people - for some reason - are intimidated by this. Me? I smile, laugh and turn up the music - I'm not taking a ticket for some idiot with his black car.
Drivers coming to Poland should drive aggressive at all times, or be eaten up.
Always. Driving defensively is actually more likely to lead to accidents - though I enjoy one bit of road on the way to work. There's a dual carriageway, and doing 80km/h on the outside lane is 'normal'. One twat was sitting on my tail, flashing his lights and boiling over with rage that I wouldn't speed up - so I taught him a lovely lesson by matching the speed of the car in the inside lane and sitting there. He - predictably - finally got past by performing a stupid dangerous move, then entirely predictably slammed on his brakes. I knew it was coming, so I was already changing lane and laughing at him as I went by. And Poland is full of such morons.
Just out of interest, how common is it for Police to take bribes for motoring offences in Poland?
Almost unheard of these days. It's common for the police to let off "one of their own" (anyone who works for the State too) - but trying to bribe the police will almost certainly get you in trouble. It was commonplace, but now - I wouldn't risk it.
One way to deal; with it is to resist being bullied by tailgaters who want you to speed up.
Never thought I'd say it Polonius, but I agree with you. I'm not surprised there are so many head on accidents when morons absolutely must overtake constantly - I make a point of slowing down quite a bit when being overtaken, simply because the chances of getting involved in a smash are quite high at that point.
But I think that if you actually learn to drive here like I did, Poland is pleasurable to drive in - not much risk of being caught by the police and next to no enforcement of speeding.
Worth pointing out as well that Poland hasn't signed up to any agreements concerning the exchanging of data for enforcement - so speed cameras abroad can be abused with impunity.
