Poland's road network has changed faster than most foreign drivers expect, and the rules that matter sit at the extremes. The blood-alcohol ceiling under Article 87 of the Kodeks wykroczeń and Article 178a of the Kodeks karny is 0.2‰ — among the strictest in the EU, well below Germany's or Italy's 0.5‰ and far below the UK's 0.8‰.
Anything between 0.2‰ and 0.5‰ is a "stan po użyciu" offence carrying a minimum PLN 2,500 fine; over 0.5‰ becomes a criminal "stan nietrzeźwości" with PLN 5,000–60,000 fines, 3–15-year licence bans, and since 14 March 2024 mandatory vehicle confiscation above 1.5‰ under Articles 44b–44c of the Penal Code. Two glasses of wine and a slow walk back to the car will still put you over.
The fine tariff was overhauled on 1 January 2022 and tariffs were not revised again for 2026 — but recidywa (a repeat of the same offence within 24 months) now doubles every fine for speeds 31 km/h or more over the limit. The maximum speeding fine is PLN 2,500 base / PLN 5,000 for repeat offenders, handheld phone use is PLN 500, and running a red light is PLN 500 plus 15 penalty points.
The night-time 60 km/h urban allowance, which existed until 1 June 2021, is gone — built-up areas are now 50 km/h around the clock, with strefy zamieszkania (residential zones) capped at 20 km/h.
Tolling is split. State-managed autostrada sections (A1 Gdańsk–Toruń, much of A2 Łódź–Konin since 2023, A4 west of Katowice) are free for cars under 3.5 tonnes; e-TOLL applies only to vehicles over 3.5 t and buses.
But the two concessionaire sections still charge cars: Stalexport's A4 Katowice–Kraków costs PLN 18 at each of the Mysłowice and Balice plazas (PLN 36 end-to-end, rates effective 1 April 2026), and Autostrada Wielkopolska's A2 Świecko–Konin costs roughly PLN 138 end-to-end. CANARD launched new odcinkowy pomiar prędkości (average-speed) corridors on the A2 (17.4 km Mińsk Mazowiecki–Janów), S7 (15.9 km Radom Północ–Wolanów) and S8 (Nadarzyn bypass) in late January 2026 — 43 new section-control points roll out nationally through the year.
Warsaw's Strefa Czystego Transportu, in force since 1 July 2024 across 37 km² of Śródmieście, expanded on 1 January 2026 into parts of Ochota, Praga and Mokotów and now requires Euro 3 petrol or Euro 5 diesel; Kraków's SCT also went live on 1 January 2026 covering roughly 60 percent of the city. Daytime running lights are mandatory year-round regardless of weather.
Reviewed by Pawan Priyadarshi
Founder of AutoviaTest · About the editor
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