After this year's vacation, Polish drivers must prepare for a real revolution in road regulations. The Ministry of Infrastructure, in cooperation with the Justice and Home Affairs ministries and the police, finalises a package of changes aimed at drastically expanding road safety. The fresh regulations will mainly hit road pirates, notoriously collecting punishment points and young drivers. No more discount fares – for speeding or driving after alcohol you will not only lose your driver's license, but even your car.
The changes are comprehensive and affect almost all aspect of being a driver. From exacerbating penalties for the most serious offences, by limiting the anticipation of reducing punishment points, to introducing a peculiar trial period for those who have just acquired their powers. This is the largest revision of the Road Code in years, which has 1 goal: to destruct bravado and irresponsibility from roads. Let's look at precisely what drivers are waiting for in the fall.
New rules for young drivers. Trial period and peculiar supervision
One of the loudest changes is the introduction of peculiar regulations for the youngest participants in the movement. The licence will be available to get already at the age of 17, however, for the first six months the young driver will be able to drive the vehicle only under the supervision of an experienced carer. Moreover, the previously known work to mark a car returns – a peculiar sticker (the alleged green leaf) will inform another participants of the movement and the police that there is simply a individual behind the wheel without experience.
After certification, each fresh driver will be covered two or 3 years of probation. During this time, it will be subject to much stricter rules:
- More stringent velocity limits: Young drivers will gotta drive slower than others.
- Total alcohol ban: Any amount of alcohol in the breath will be unacceptable.
- "Three Chances" system: 2 serious offences in a trial period will consequence in an extension of the offence. The 3rd offence will be equivalent to automatic failure of driving licence and the request to retake the exam.
The intent of these regulations is to make good habits for beginners and to guarantee that people who are full aware of the work they gotta go to the roads.
Penalty points without reduction. erstwhile are you gonna lose your license?
The government ends with indulgence for drivers collecting punishment points. The fresh rules importantly restrict the anticipation of reducing them by taking part in peculiar courses. The list of offences for which points will be “unkasable”, is long and covers the most common sins of Polish drivers. These include:
- Overspeed allowed more than 50 km/h.
- Drive on red light.
- Overtake at or immediately ahead of the pedestrian crossing.
- Not giving up precedence on the crossing.
That's not all. The rules on stopping a driving licence for velocity are besides changing. So far, the paper has been lost for 3 months for exceeding the limit by more than 50 km/h in the built-up area. The fresh government besides extends this to two-way roads outside the built-in area. Given police statistic that up to 80% of drivers regularly exceed the velocity there, this could mean an avalanche increase in the number of allowances retained.
Car confiscation and prison. Government declares war on road pirates
The amendment introduces tools to effectively deter the most dangerous drivers. Organisation or participation illegal street racing will be treated as a crime for which punishment will be threatened even up to 5 years imprisonment. akin sanctions were provided for the deliberate introduction of the vehicle into skid (the alleged drift) in public places or bravado riding on 1 wheel for motorcyclists.
To the arsenal of means of fighting road pirates besides returns Car confiscation. The court will be able to declare the vehicle lost if the driver is stopped behind the wheel despite a judicial ban on driving. Whereas confiscation will become mandatory if the driver has driven, having an alcohol level in his body more than 1,5 promila. Additionally, for gross speeding, e.g. driving 210 km/h on the highway, and creating a real threat of disaster in land traffic, there will besides be a threat of punishment for up to 5 years in prison.
When will the fresh regulations come into force? agenda of amendments
The government plans to make changes in stages to give drivers time to adapt to fresh realities. First, most urgent regulations are to enter into force already 30 days after publication of the Act. This concerns, above all, the tightening of penalties for the most serious traffic offences.
Another package of changes, including fresh rules on punishment points and regulations for young drivers, is due to be sent to the Sejm in the autumn. These regulations are expected to become applicable three months or 1 year after their publication in the authoritative Journal. It is besides worth mentioning the increase in the amount of the mandatory charge for breaking the judicial ban on driving from PLN 5 1000 to PLN 10 1000 and the anticipation for the court to decide for a life the ban on driving for persons persistently breaking the law. The coming months is the last bell to take your leg off the gas and remember the rules of safe driving.
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The government tightens the rules. After your vacation you will lose your driver's licence much faster
