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Driving lights in Poland


Ton  3 | 6  
7 Jun 2010 /  #1
Cześć everybody,

I am Dutch and a living in Warsaw. Recently I was driving to Holland and on the A2 highway the police stopped me. I am driving a newBMW 5-serie and it is equipped with so called "Angel eyes". A that moment I was using them. The police gave a ticket of PLN 100 because it was not allowed. I had to use full lights! In Warsaw no police man ever gave me a ticket for sing the Angel eyes. And what about all the new models of Audi and Mercedes?

Can somebody tell me the exact rules i Poland regarding driving lights during daytime?

Thnk you in advance!
pgtx  29 | 3094  
7 Jun 2010 /  #2
And what about all the new models of Audi and Mercedes?

does it really matter?
just buy a hummer h2 and run the cops over next time...

Lights

When visibility is poor (fog, rain or generally in other adverse conditions) the driver must:

- switch on the side light or fog lights or both;

- give short horn signals outside built-up areas while passing or overtaking other vehicles;

Rear fog lights may be used if visibility is reduced to 50 m. These lights should be turned off as soon as visibility improves.

Side lights must be always switched on in normal weather conditions from dusk till dawn, and at all times from 1 October to the end of February. Side lights must also be used in unlit tunnels.

Motorcycle and moped riders must to have the lights on at all times.

meetpoland/traffic-regulations.html

Traffic Regulations in Poland
Wroclaw  44 | 5359  
7 Jun 2010 /  #3
I had to use full lights!

it seems the police answered your question.

headlights on at all times whilst the vehicle is in motion.
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
7 Jun 2010 /  #4
headlights on at all times whilst the vehicle is in motion.

Not headlights, but dipped headlights.

(one of the most idiotic things about Polish law, that one)
Wroclaw  44 | 5359  
7 Jun 2010 /  #5
Not headlights, but dipped headlights.

agreed
sobieski  106 | 2111  
7 Jun 2010 /  #6
Great how people driving a BMW (or Mercedes) seem to think traffic regulations are made for everybody else, but it does not apply to them? I think it has to be universal. In my native Belgium they behave the same :)
Wroclaw Boy  
7 Jun 2010 /  #7
There seems to be some confusion over the speed limit of 50 kmh or 60 kmh in built up areas, can anyone clear this up? I believe it has domething to do with time scales.
peter_olsztyn  6 | 1082  
7 Jun 2010 /  #8
speed limit of 50 kmh or 60 kmh in built up areas, can anyone clear this up? I believe it has domething to do with time scales.

5oo-23oo --> 50 kmh
23oo-5oo --> 60 kmh
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
7 Jun 2010 /  #9
There seems to be some confusion over the speed limit of 50 kmh or 60 kmh in built up areas, can anyone clear this up? I believe it has domething to do with time scales.

It's quite a nice law - and an utter contrast to the lunatic lights law :(
wildrover  98 | 4430  
7 Jun 2010 /  #10
I don,t know what the figures are for Poland , but i know that when they made headlights compulsary for motocycles in the USA the accident rate went right down....for the first year , then went back up to the previous rate once people got used to them and began not to notice them as much.....
OP Ton  3 | 6  
8 Jun 2010 /  #11
Great how people driving a BMW (or Mercedes) seem to think traffic regulations are made for everybody else, but it does not apply to them? I think it has to be universal. In my native Belgium they behave the same :)

It doesn't matter what car someone is driving, regulations are there for everybody. That is why I ask this question on this forum. Apperently the police themselves in Poland are not thinking in the same way, or al teast not acting in the same way! These kind of daylight driving lights are LED's and therefore better for the environment.

Great how people who are NOT driving a BMW, Audi or Mercedes, always have to start their comment like the way you just did. m I tasting a bit of jealousy?
plk123  8 | 4119  
8 Jun 2010 /  #12
just buy a hummer h2 and run the cops over next time...

i think maybe you're thinking about RAMming them with a Dodge? ;)

- give short horn signals outside built-up areas while passing or overtaking other vehicles;

you know, i do that here on two lane highways all the time.. i think it should be a law here, imho.

and at all times from 1 October to the end of February.

there is his answer, most likely.

dipped headlights.

what are those?

5oo-23oo --> 50 kmh
23oo-5oo --> 60 kmh

i like it.. i also wish they'd do that here in the states... but nooooo.. in MT, no speed limit during daylight but something stupidly slow at night..

in WI they have seasonal speed limits.. faster 3/4 of the year and slower in the winter... i kind of like that too..

I don,t know what the figures are for Poland , but i know that when they made headlights compulsary for motocycles in the USA the accident rate went right down....for the first year , then went back up to the previous rate once people got used to them and began not to notice them as much.....

now many bikes have pulsating head lights.. the rear lights are still way too small though..

LED's and therefore better for the environment.

that has nothing to do with anything.. the laws are about SAFETY... can you believe it? ;) :D
PolishNutjob  1 | 74  
8 Jun 2010 /  #13
Great how people who are NOT driving a BMW, Audi or Mercedes, always have to start their comment like the way you just did. m I tasting a bit of jealousy?

Probably not. Jealousy is an attribute seldom found among Polish people.
plk123  8 | 4119  
8 Jun 2010 /  #14
said nutjob.. lol
OP Ton  3 | 6  
8 Jun 2010 /  #15
Probably not. Jealousy is an attribute seldom found among Polish people

Dear PolishNutJob,

Mr. or Mrs. Sobieski is a Belgian.

In my native Belgium they behave the same :)

Olaf  6 | 955  
8 Jun 2010 /  #16
Why using any lights when you can

- give short horn signals outside built-up areas while passing or overtaking other vehicles;

PROBLEM SOLVED
delphiandomine  86 | 17823  
8 Jun 2010 /  #17
what are those?

Also known as low beam headlights - they're the ones that you use for ordinary driving in the evening in the city.
sobieski  106 | 2111  
8 Jun 2010 /  #18
Mr Sobieski is driving a VW Touran and feels quite comfortable with that one :)
Stu  12 | 515  
8 Jun 2010 /  #19
Jealousy is an attribute seldom found among Polish people.

Oooo come on, who are you kidding? Well, let's put it this way: maybe they aren't jealous (but I seem to remember a lot of threads about stealing women, etc ... :-S), but they grudge eachother the light in their eyes.
plk123  8 | 4119  
9 Jun 2010 /  #20
Also known as low beam headlights

thanks.. called head lights or driving lights in the USA.. and the hi beams for the brights..
OP Ton  3 | 6  
9 Jun 2010 /  #21
Mr Sobieski is driving a VW Touran and feels quite comfortable with that one :)

Mr. Sobieski, are you sure about this? I was driving at least 5 VW's in the past. From Golf to Passat, and I have to admit that the quality was very good. But compared to BMW...., tsja I cannot deny the difference in quality and driving pleasure! I am sorry! But please be happy with your Touran, it is a good car.
Wroclaw Boy  
10 Jun 2010 /  #22
It's quite a nice law - and an utter contrast to the lunatic lights law :(

Im in favour of the lights law even if it does mean i have to change light bulbs more often, if it saves one life a year (which im sure it does) its worth it right?
Stu  12 | 515  
10 Jun 2010 /  #23
i have to change light bulbs more often

And I've heard that it uses about 10% more fuel as well. The new LED-daylights don't. There are big differences per car (the more the car consumes, the less the extra fuel consumption), but I still think the law should go along with modern techniques. It's like the light laws for cyclists, isn't it? The police shouldn't be bothered with what kind of light, but only with the fact that the cyclist has light.

It's about safety, it's about being visible to other people ... so nagging people with using LED-lighting on modern cars, is simply stupid and doesn't reflect the meaning behind the law. These police officers are just frustrated little twurts who want to assert their power. They are too stupid to even talk about.
plk123  8 | 4119  
11 Jun 2010 /  #24
^^ maybe it's in the law.. maybe LED doesn't count as light.. maybe it's too white..
wildrover  98 | 4430  
11 Jun 2010 /  #25
Some of my friends with custom Harleys have only a led lamp on the front of their bikes....not heard about any of them being hastled by the cops over it though...?

Mind you , many of them can be heard long before they are seen...!

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