Poland launches nationwide road checks on vehicle lights and pedestrian reflectors

Scope of the nationwide campaign

Polish traffic police launched a nationwide road safety enforcement campaign on Thursday, 1 October 2026, targeting vehicle lighting defects and pedestrian compliance. The operation runs across all Polish regions through the end of 2026. Patrols are inspecting the operational state, physical condition, beam alignment, and light emission of headlights during roadside stops. Officers are instructed to pay specific attention to pedestrian visibility outside urban zones after nightfall. Drivers operating vehicles with defective lighting systems face financial penalties, penalty points on their driving records, and the confiscation of vehicle registration certificates.

Headlight condition and ITS findings

Data collected by the Motor Transport Institute (Instytut Transportu Samochodowego, ITS) shows widespread deficiencies in vehicle illumination across Poland. According to ITS survey findings, 98% of drivers report being blinded by the headlights of oncoming vehicles on the road. Approximately 70% of respondents attribute severe glare to the installation of unapproved replacement bulbs. ITS estimates that as many as 80% of cars on Polish roads operate with incorrectly adjusted headlights, leaving only about 30% of vehicles with correctly configured lights. In addition, over 40% of surveyed motorists state that their own headlights emit insufficient light, and about 20% of lighting components require immediate replacement. Analyzer tests supplied by ITS to police previously revealed that up to half of inspected vehicles emitted beams capable of blinding other drivers, with only a small percentage showing correct alignment.

Fine schedule and penalty point system

Under Polish traffic regulations, motorists must keep their headlights switched on 24 hours a day. Operating a vehicle without required daytime lights results in a 100 PLN fine and 2 penalty points, whereas driving without lights after dark carries a 300 PLN fine and 6 penalty points. Failing to illuminate a vehicle properly inside road tunnels brings a 200 PLN fine and 6 penalty points, while driving without proper lights during fog or precipitation incurs a 200 PLN fine and 2 penalty points. Police can also issue a 200 PLN fine and 3 penalty points for improper high-beam usage, a 100 PLN fine and 2 penalty points for inappropriate rear fog light usage, and a 200 PLN fine for obscuring exterior lights with cargo. Fines for operating faulty or improperly adjusted lighting span from 20 PLN up to 3000 PLN.

Pedestrian rules and LED retrofit timeline

The enforcement initiative also focuses on pedestrian safety along unlit thoroughfares and addresses the legal status of aftermarket LED conversions. Outside built-up areas after dark, pedestrians are legally required to wear visible reflective elements placed directly within vehicle headlight range. Police remind pedestrians that even a small reflector increases visibility and provides drivers more time to brake or manoeuvre safely, while reiterating the legal rule requiring pedestrians to walk along the left shoulder of the road. A standard citation of 100 PLN applies to pedestrians lacking reflectors, but fines can reach up to 3000 PLN if non-compliance creates direct road danger. For motorists converting halogen units with LED retrofits to improve side-road illumination, components must possess valid ECE homologation, such as approved H11 retrofits. Piotr Kaźmierczak from the Motor Transport Institute noted that structured regulatory changes will give manufacturers clear production criteria while granting drivers legal certainty.