As of March 3, 2026, comprehensive changes to road traffic regulations come into force in Poland. The most important modifications include extending the sanction of a three-month driving license suspension for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h to areas outside built-up zones as well. Simultaneously, the possibility for seventeen-year-olds to obtain a category B driving license has been introduced, subject to strict conditions regarding supervisor oversight and a zero-alcohol limit.
Loss of Driving License Outside Cities
Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h on any road now results in the loss of the license for three months.
License for 17-Year-Olds
Youth can drive a car under the supervision of a guardian; they are subject to total abstinence and lower speed limits.
An End to Street Drifting
Severe fines (up to 1500–3000 PLN) and 12 penalty points have been introduced for intentional skidding and recklessness.
New Equipment Requirements
Vehicles and accessories must meet new EU standards regarding intelligent speed assistance.
A comprehensive package of amendments to road regulations has come into force, significantly tightening the rules for drivers engaging in recklessness on the roads. A key element of the reform is the standardization of sanctions for drastic speeding. Until now, a three-month driving license suspension was threatened only for exceeding the limit by more than 50 km/h within a built-up area. From today, the same penalty is applied on single-carriageway, two-way roads outside built-up areas. However, the sanction does not apply to dual-carriageway roads, expressways, or motorways. The legislature decided on this step to reduce the number of accidents on routes where high speed is the main cause of tragic events. Simultaneously, the new regulation introduces the institution of a driving license for persons who have turned 17. Young drivers can apply for a license with the consent of their parents or legal guardians, but until reaching the age of majority, they must drive the vehicle accompanied by an adult, experienced driver who has held a driving license for at least five years. Importantly, for this group, an absolute ban on alcohol consumption before driving (a limit of 0.0 per mille) and stricter speed limits on motorways and expressways have been introduced. The administrative sanction of driving license suspension for exceeding the speed limit by 50 km/h in built-up areas was introduced in Poland in 2015 and significantly contributed to improved safety in cities.The amendment also targets those practicing so-called drifting or street racing. For intentionally causing a vehicle to skid (for example, in parking lots or intersections) and for riding a motorcycle on one wheel, financial penalties reaching several thousand zloty and the assignment of 12 penalty points to the driver's record have been introduced. The rules for certifying satellite navigation systems and assistance systems have also changed; they must now comply with the latest European Union safety guidelines regarding intelligent speed adaptation. „There will be no leniency. The new regulations give us tools to effectively fight road pirates who until now felt unpunished outside urban areas.” — Police SpokespersonIt is worth noting the complexity of the effective dates for individual provisions. While the main wave of changes applies from March 3, specific requirements concerning the probationary period for the youngest drivers are to be fully implemented only in September 2026, due to the need to adapt the IT systems of the Central Driver Register. Experts point out that such a broad reform is a reaction to the stagnation in road safety statistics in Poland in recent years.