Fines for traffic violations by truck drivers in Poland.
Fines for traffic violations by truck drivers in Poland.
Since 2022, fines for traffic violations in Poland have significantly increased. However, they are still slightly lower than in Germany. In this article, we will review the most common fines for truck drivers.
Speed limits for trucks in Poland
The speed limit in urban areas in Poland is 50 km/h. Occasionally, signs increase the speed limit, such as 70 km/h. This sign applies only to passenger vehicles, and trucks must continue driving at 50 km/h despite the 70 km/h sign.
Outside cities, if it is a standard two-lane road (one lane in each direction, without dividers), the speed limit for trucks is 70 km/h.
If the road has a divider between lanes or more than two lanes in one direction, the speed limit is 80 km/h.
On highways, truck drivers are allowed to drive at 80 km/h.
Fines in Poland for speeding
Since September 17, 2022, the government has increased fines and the number of penalty points for exceeding speed limits on Polish roads.
In Poland, there is no distinction between violations occurring in cities or outside them, as in Germany. The fine amount depends on the severity of the violation and whether it is a first-time offense or if there have been previous violations.
| Speeding | Fine | Penalty points | Repeat offense |
| up to 10 km/h | 50 PLN. | 1 | – |
| 11-15 km/h | 100 PLN. | 2 | – |
| 16 – 20 km/h | 200 PLN. | 3 | – |
| 21-25 km/h | 300 PLN. | 5 | – |
| 26-30 km/h | 400 PLN. | 7 | – |
| 31-40 km/h | 800 PLN. | 9 | 1600 PLN. |
| 41-50 km/h | 1000 PLN. | 11 | 2000 PLN. |
| 51-60 km/h | 1500 PLN. | 13 | 3000 PLN. |
| 61-70 km/h | 2000 PLN. | 14 | 4000 PLN. |
| 71 and more | 2500 PLN. | 15 | 5000 PLN. |
Fine for using a phone
In Poland, as in other EU countries, using a phone while driving is prohibited. If the police notice or a camera records that you were talking on the phone, holding it in your hands, or holding a microphone while driving, the fine is 500 PLN.
Fines for running a red light in Poland
If you run a red light at an intersection, you should know that you face a serious fine.
In Poland, running a red light is one of the most serious violations. If running a red light does not create a dangerous situation or cause damage, the fine is 500 PLN and up to 15 penalty points. However, if an accident occurs as a result of the violation, the fine increases to 1500 PLN.
Life corridor
When an accident occurs on the road and participants block the lanes, traffic jams form, and emergency vehicles like ambulances, police, and fire trucks cannot pass. To address this, drivers are required to create a “life corridor.”
A life corridor is a space created by drivers for the passage of emergency vehicles.
Failing to create a life corridor in time or using it to bypass a traffic jam results in a fine of 500–2500 PLN. Additionally, the police may assign up to 8 penalty points.
Fines for overloading in Poland
In recent years, Poland has intensified efforts to combat overloading in freight transportation. Fines for such violations have significantly increased.
Driving an overloaded truck is dangerous not only for other road users but also for the driver.
An overloaded vehicle damages road surfaces, becomes harder to control, and brakes less effectively.
Overloading fine table:
| Exceeding the maximum permissible weight | Penalty amount |
| by less than 5% | 500 PLN. |
| from 5 – up to 15% | 1000 PLN. |
| from 15 to 25% | 2000 PLN. |
| More than 25% | 5000 PLN. and more |
The situation with axle overload on a truck is similar. The difference is that for an overload on a single axle exceeding 20% of the permissible load, the fine can reach up to 10,000 PLN, depending on the level of excess.
Both the driver and the owning company are responsible for the overload. The fine for the driver can range from 500 to 5,000 PLN.
The fine for the company can go up to 15,000 PLN.
No coordinates.
