Driving Rules and Speed Limits in Poland

Speed limits (unless signed)

• Built-up area: 50 km/h (day and night — the former 23:00–05:00 60 km/h exception was removed).
• Residential zone: 20 km/h.
• Outside built-up: 90 km/h.
• Expressway: 120 km/h.
• Motorway: 140 km/h.
• Dual carriageway: 100 km/h; single carriageway: 90 km/h. Signed limits always prevail.

Alcohol

• Poland has a near-zero regime. Driving from 0.2‰ is an offence (misdemeanour, fine + points + licence risk); above 0.5‰ is intoxication and may be a crime. Best practice: do not drink at all before driving — never rely on "one small beer" estimates, as concentration varies by body, food, timing, and drink strength.

Headlights

• Lights are required year-round on public roads. Dipped beams are the default; daytime running lights (DRL) may be used instead only in normal daytime visibility.

Winter

• Winter tyres are not generally mandatory by law, but driving without them in snow can be treated as fault in an accident. Snow chains are mandatory where signs require them (e.g., mountain access roads).

Other rules

• Right-hand traffic.
• Seat belts mandatory front and rear.
• Children below 150 cm height use an approved child seat (subject to statutory exceptions).
• Mandatory vehicle equipment includes a warning triangle and a fire extinguisher.
• Phone use only hands-free.
• Clear snow and ice from the vehicle before driving.

Fines and points

• Poland uses a demerit-point system; speeding, alcohol, and phone offences carry points and steep fines.