From March 3rd, changes to the Road Traffic Law will come into effect, including the automatic suspension of a driving license for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h also outside built-up areas, and the possibility for 17-year-olds to obtain a category B license under the supervision of a guardian. Simultaneously, the state and police are strengthening oversight: more section speed controls are being activated, and courts and officers are consistently responding to repeat offenses.

New penalties for speeding

From March 3rd, driving license suspension will also apply to exceeding the limit by more than 50 km/h outside built-up areas on single-carriageway two-way roads.

Driving license from age 17

17-year-olds will be able to obtain a category B license, but only with a guardian; the course will be possible earlier, and the license will have additional formal restrictions.

Expansion of camera surveillance

CANARD activated section speed control on the A4 between Krapkowice and the Góra Świętej Anny rest area, as part of a broader automatic surveillance program.

Strict responses to driving bans

Examples from Wodzisław Śląski and other places show that driving despite court-imposed bans results in expedited proceedings, imprisonment, and high fines.

Local restrictions on alcohol sales

The Płock City Council passed a ban on nighttime alcohol sales from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM in shops and at stations, citing public order.

A package of changes to the Road Traffic Law will take effect on March 3, 2026. It introduces, among other things, the automatic suspension of a driving license for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h on a single-carriageway two-way road outside a built-up area. At the same time, the legislator has allowed 17-year-olds to obtain a category B driving license, with the stipulation of driving under the supervision of an experienced guardian and limitations on the validity of the license. Ministries responsible for road safety emphasize that the goal is to reduce the most dangerous driver behaviors and increase mobility for younger people. „Bezpieczeństwo na drodze zaczyna się od decyzji, które podejmujesz jako kierowca” (Road safety starts with the decisions you make as a driver.) — Ministry of Interior and Administration Since the 1990s, Poland has gradually tightened penalties for speeding and drunk driving, combining criminal provisions with administrative decisions. In European countries, including Poland, automatic traffic surveillance has also been developed to reduce the discretion of controls and increase the detection of offenses. 50 km/h — threshold for stricter penaltiesKey dates for changes and actions: February 24, 12:00 — Start of measurement on A4; March 3, 2026 — Amendment enters into force; June 1, 2026 — Ban on nighttime alcohol sales; September 3, 2026 — Next stage of changes Simultaneously, the tightening of rules is illustrated by descriptions of current events and interventions. In Gdańsk, a female driver skidded, veered into the opposite lane, and rolled over; police classified the incident as a collision and imposed a 3,000 PLN fine and 10 penalty points. In Łódź, an unmarked patrol car driving with its siren on collided with two cars, and one of the policewomen received medical assistance. On the S8 near Łask, a bus hit a Maserati; the perpetrator received a fine, and officers seized the registration documents of both vehicles. Near Zambrów, a 20-year-old fled in a tractor and ended the chase in a river; according to police reports, the vehicle got stuck in the water, and the driver explained it as a "joyride" and was reportedly not complying with vision correction requirements. At the same time, courts are responding to driving bans: in Wodzisław Śląski, a driver with five bans was sent to prison, and in other towns, people were detained for driving despite a lifetime ban or without the required transport license. Police also pointed to sobriety checks (610 checks in the Nowe Miasto county) and further arrests of drivers under the influence of alcohol and drugs, while media reminded of high penalties for blocking the left lane and failing to yield to pedestrians, including increased penalties for recidivism.

Perspektywy mediów: News media emphasize legal details and control statistics. Tabloids highlight the sensationalism of chases and harsh assessments of drivers.

Mentioned People

  • Adam Dembiński — Commander (Cmdr.) from the Provincial Police Headquarters in Łódź, quoted regarding the accident at the intersection of Piłsudski Avenue and Kopciński Street.
  • Marta Dmochowska — Junior Aspirant from the District Police Headquarters in Zambrów, informed about the chase of a 20-year-old driving a tractor without required vision correction.
  • Mariusz Chrzanowski — Staff Aspirant from the city police headquarters in Gdańsk, commented on the rollover after skidding on Armii Krajowej Avenue.