Driving in Poland, are there any rules at all?

Those are quite good - hopefully it isn't long before the equivalents are aired in PL.

Intoxication, alcohol or other (let's not forget other substances both legal and illicit), is obviously a big problem. Still, drink driving accounts for "only" 8% of all road fatalities - thus the remainder of road murderers must be sober. Quite shocking if you pause here for a few seconds, isn't it? Speeding drivers have been the single worst killer for years and account for ~30% of the fatalities. I think this important statistic is somehow missed in the media coverage, as all of the attention is given exclusively to drunk killers, whereas the fact of the matter is that drunk drivers are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

That is a blatant lie and the stats prove it.

Another hard-hitting road safety advert to be shown on Norther Irish tv.

How would a Polish audience react?
Why do we never see road safety ads here?

youtube.com/watch?v=MD8BkIgp9Fo

Sounds like they're just what's needed, among many other measures.


With horror, I would hope.

Re: the thread title, are there any rules for cyclists in Poland? I've lost count of the number of times I've seen cops drive past cyclists riding without lights. They also ride wearing dark clothing at night, without so much as a reflector, drunk, and on the wrong side of the road. Yet if I were to hit and kill one of them, as I nearly have many times, I would be imprisoned without a doubt, and would have to pay compensation to my 'victim's' family for his 'murder'. Sorry to sound so emotive but it really gets on my tits.

Is it actually the case that a court would not take into account that a cyclist was any one of these:

drunk
riding without lights at night nor even a (probably mandatory) reflector
on the wrong side of the road

?

Has this sort of rough justice happened to a motorist before?

Dunno, but I'd have a tidy bet that it has. What is undoubtedly the case is that cops routinely ignore infringements by cyclists.
Come to think of it, I did hear of a case years ago where a motorist killed a cyclist and was jailed, although it wasn't his fault. I remember at the time that it was the view of the court that "someone must pay", or words to that effect. Anyone remember that case? I also think that Polish judges can be swayed by old ladies wailing in court. (I have learned this to my considerable cost this year.)

Do you tend to "go with the flow" and drive above the speed limit? If so, try to not "go with the flow" and set the pace yourself, at the speed limit, or less. The speed limit is the maximum safe (in ideal conditions) speed for that stretch of road, not the speed to drive at or above. The slower you go, the less chance there is of that stupid cyclist causing you a problem and court case.

Did my first trip to Poland and to Europe a couple weeks ago and have to say it went really well. No problem along the way, the roads were of a high standard in Poland and no harassment from the police (I stayed in the limit). I was also surprised by the speed limit on their motorways, which was a generous 140kph (around 90 mph), the second fastest from all the countries I passed through. I drove to Zakopane first and they were upgrading the roads on the way but there was minimal delay, the roads were otherwise good quality. Final destination was Mielec and the roads there were quality too. Easy to follow signage and low traffic means easy to drive on. I hardly bumped into any bad drivers either.

It was a good experience which i would consider doing again with another driver helping out.

Merged: Advice needed about driving in Poland

I am an Irishman who loves Poland and everything Polish. Don't ask me why, I've been like that since childhood. I just cannot help liking every Pole I meet (and envying their intellegence). My wife and I are planning a motoring holiday in Poland next year, using our own car. We plan to visit Poznan, Torun, Warsaw, Kraków, Mazuria, Wroclaw and many other places besides over a four week period.

Two things scare me to death. Firstly, every guide book I read rails about the dangers of driving in Poland & how manic Polish drivers are. I get questions like 'Are you mad?, Do you have a death wish? Don't you realise how lethal it is to drive in Poland?, etc, etc. Secondly, the guide books emphasise that foreign registered cars are particularly targeted by thieves in Poland. They say that if you are mad enough to drive in Poland, then make sure you drive a hire car.

The advice I am getting disturbs me. This is not the Poland I so like and admire.
Would somebody PLEASE put me straight on driving in Poland and give me some honest advice. Are the guide books right? And is there anything or things I should bear in mind before making this 'death defying trip'???

Nah, there are plenty of Poles driving foreign registered cars.

Did you drive in Ireland when people were driving on provisional licenses? If so, Poland's not much worse. I'd compare it very much to Ireland of around 15 years ago, to be honest. In general, drive defensively - rules simply aren't obeyed, but that can also be to your benefit. You don't have to worry about your speed (or check your speedo constantly) too.

What you should bear in mind is the tendency of Poles to overtake in stupid and dangerous situations. Keep an eye on your mirrors, and if someone behind looks like he wants to kill himself, ease off and let him overtake (and he will, probably in a dangerous and idiotic manner - so ease off even more when he overtakes you). Likewise, if you're on a single carriageway road, pay attention if you're the first car in a line - people will also be overtaking like morons when coming the other way.

But it's great fun to drive here - driving rules are relaxed, no-one is going to stop you for not using an indicator or other ridiculously petty things. Just don't break the major rules (jumping red lights, for instance) and relax. It's worth pointing out that most of the country is now connected via motorway anyway, so it's not so bad.

Hi tatieash1407

Here's my view. Polish drivers are getting better but there are a large number of deaths every time there's a long weekend.

Firstly warnings.

1 There are many single lane roads with a small hard shoulder on each side. People wanting to overtake you or people heading straight for you expect you to veer into this hard shoulder so they can get past. These are the most frightening roads for me. Just be aware of it if someone is flashing angrily behind you and you can't see how it is possible for them to overtake.

2 Cars rarely stop for people waiting at zebra crossings. If you do, the person trying to cross may look at you blankly and refuse to move until you've gone. I always stop which sometimes leads to situations where someone is halfway across and has to stop walking because someone overtakes me and drives on regardless. Always keep a look out if using zebras without lights (as a pedestrian)

3 In big cities, make way for trams. Park your car in the hotel car park, or some other guarded parking (it isn't cheap but it's safe) and leave it there until you leave the city. Public transport is very good and cheap in all cities. Outside the cities, wherever you stay should have a place that you can leave the car. During the day it will be pretty safe anywhere, I would have thought.

Now the positives
1 I've been here twenty years and owned a car for the last fourteen. Touch wood, I haven't had an accident yet.
2 Motorways are much quieter than in Britain. Lorries do suddenly decide to overtake right in front of you on occasion but I feel much safer here than negotiating the M25.

3 There are more and more speed traps which makes people drive more carefully - I think.
4 I've driven into the centre of Krakow, Wroclaw, Warsaw, Gdansk looking for hotels with no GPS and I've always made it safely in the end.

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. City driving is hell anywhere with one way systems, converging lanes etc etc but out in the country, the drivers are fine. Just be careful on small country lanes after dark as you may have a drunk wandering home in the middle of the road or cycling without lights.

I have been hearing from people who come from the UK and Ireland- generally- that the drivers are big mess here. I have never been to the UK, however after coming from Istanbul, I can say that Polish drivers are generally good and law-abiding (mostly you may not agree with me but remember I compare with Istanbul :) ).

However, if we get to the speed topic this can be a little crazy, as I see when the limit is 140 on the highway (please correct me if I am wrong) when I am on the right lane with 120-130, I see a lot of cars passing by me much faster on the left lane. Speed limits are not respected mostly.


Sometimes it can be really disturbing as delphiandomine mentioned, they get stuck to your back like ticks until they get a chance to overtake.

But I would tell you to relax, some rules are not respected but if you are careful, you will not face any problems.

Many thanks, Delphiandomine, St. Bilko and Istannbullu34. Your comments are very comprehensive, highly informative and most welcome! I will read them over again to ensure I have not missed anything. They reflect what my gut feelings were actually telling me, that guide books tend to exaggerate problems, never diminish them. I'm now quite looking forward to my Polish trip and I will keep your advice very much in mind. If I get into trouble I'll do like in the Tom & Jerry cartoons; close my eyes, whistle a tune and put my foot to the metal!! (Joke). I'm perfectly sure we'll have a superb adventure. Thank you again.

Basic rules of driving in the UK:

1. Forget Your car has indicators (when possible unfit those switches),

2. Treat every pedestrian as an under-human,

3. Learn how to insult someone properly,

When owning a motocross bike:

1. Make sure it has no/drilled silencer,

2. Make sure it's not road-legal,

3. Always smoke a spliff before and at least one while driving,

4. 10 PM is the best time to start those stunts that succeeding in, obviously, demands wearing no body-armour or a helmet,

5. Insult people that complain about You being noisy or reckless.

Coming back to this topic,

sometimes the reverse situation occurs,

Some people are insisting on driving with 50-60 km on the left lane while the limit is around 80 and when you are coming faster than them on left lane, they do not go for the right lane but keep going on left and drive you crazy. 2 cars in front of me today morning were going like that.

Eventually I got pi..ed and passed them from a very left lane which is just being used for left turn, and when I was doing this, taxi driver started to go faster not to allow me to pass. When I passed him, he became angry and we stopped and tried to have a fight (language barrier, you can imagine how it looked :)

This really happens a lot, especially ladies and taxi drivers are using left lane while they go slower than you (when the speed limit is more than 50) and they insist on it. I will go into trouble one day because of this.

My two penny is that driving in Poland is generally more draining than in US, Canada or UK. In US I could drive 13 hours with only breaks for WC and fuel. I doubt that I could manage this in Poland. There are many roads marked with "fat" lines on the map, when actually the tarmac is scarcely wide enough for 2 cars. Vehicles pass each other at breathtaking speed with only "inches" between side mirrors. I drive a lot in wojewodztwo kujawsko-pomorskie, and even today I had to put one wheel off tarmac to let some lorries pass me. I also find that drivers here seem to like making abrupt steering adjustments, basically continually jolting the steering wheel rather than moving it gradually. It is quite scary to cruise beside someone who drives that way. I have learned that at junctions it is important to watch the eyes of the drivers to ensure they even see you. (To think that used to take it for granted).Oh yes, and drivers of high end German cars drive like psychopaths.

What a load of nonsense (and I am in "polite" mode today)


I have bad news for you Sylvio.

If you spend as long in Poland as I have, you will not only become attuned to their appalling driving - but start mirroring their dangerous practices yourself.

Poles ( just like that joker ex-Formula 1 driver of theirs) believe that speed is a laugh, as communism deprived them of that "adrenaline rush" that the rest of the world so enjoyed.

Take good care and hang back if in doubt:)

No replies. We know why.

Poles - be ashamed of your driving.

If ever you hurt my loved ones with your idiocy... I will find you...

It's a sad thing when a country is right up there near the top of the accident statistics and even sadder when the drivers blame "the roads". If a road is bad, it means you drive more carefully.


My (much closer than just a) friend was run over and killed when crossing a road in central Warsaw by a speeding driver who didn't slow down when he approached a crossing. No prosecution, since he was apparently a Polish 'VIP'. If I ever find him...

Terrible Jon.
In Aberdeen there was a gang offering "retribution services" when I lived there. Shall I check if they are still in business?

Then what?


I'm afraid their services don't expand as far as Poland.

I live in istanbul but there's more traffic in warsaw bec of stupid lights. Please can someone change the way of work these lights thx^^

Can you believe that those lights' sequential order is run by a dedicated team of civil engineers and IT experts employing "Special software"

No? Neither could I.

Are you then saying that they make them run inefficiently in order to make the driving conditions worse just and to **** off the public?

In Berlin, yes. Can't talk about other cities, but Berlin has them deliberately designed to reduce the desirability of driving there.

I read an article somewhere about it, and it's seen as a pro-Green measure that actually results in a lot more pollution.

Polish cities have been busy introducing ITS systems, which prioritises public transport over cars. It can result in some dreadful traffic light timings - for example, you're familiar with Poznań aren't you? It used to be that you could drive from a green light on Rondo Starołęka towards Glogowska/Hetmanska and get through the lights on the way if you drove at the speed limit. Now - impossible - you'll hit at least two red lights on the way.

I am all for that. If public transport is good. In Tri-City the SKM is run for profit (wrong in my opinion), and there is not enough stock available at peak times, so it's sardine time.

And there is no reason why they can't have automated ticket machines on the trains, other than that Solidarnosc would never allow it. It would remove the need for the conductor.

The relatively poor service is why people (inexplicably) vote for the much slower car. Sadly, only punitive congestion charges would reduce the Poles' love for his car, when he simply does not need it in Tri-City a lot of the time.

Oh yes, there's a splendid comparison in Wielkopolska. Koleje Wielkpolskie has a conductor and a ticket machine, while Przewozy Regionalne has no ticket machines and 3 conductors for the same length of train. Having said that, the conductor last weekend was telling me jokes, which was quite surreal.

Just to not go off-topic - I have to admit that driving in Poland is far more relaxing than in the Czech Republic or Germany. The lack of fear of being caught is massively enjoyable.

They are bizarre. Great fares between Gdynia and Gdansk though. 20 minutes. 4 zlotys. Why people who live and work within walking distance, and sit on their arse all day working, take their car is beyond my understanding. Obviously they earn well, so can afford a congestion charge.

Indeed, we have countless examples of that here in the UK.

Absolutely. The UK is a nightmare transport wise. They should learn from the Germans. As always.