Driving Safely In Rural Poland
How To Get From A to B Accident Free While Motoring In Poland
While the Polish public transport system is cheap, it is slow, and doesn’t enable the traveller to reach some of the more remote areas. A hire car allows visitors to set their own travel schedule.
Unfortunately, many drivers from the US and Western Europe will find road conditions in rural Poland difficult. Many drivers will pass at least a couple of minor road accidents while on their travels. In fact, drivers in Poland risk one of the highest statistics of fatal road traffic accidents in Europe.
While the thought of a motoring vacation in Poland might appear daunting, most experienced drivers can escape mishap if they use a little extra care and attention.
Polish Driving Tips
Communist era roads weren’t built for today’s volumes of traffic, and so smaller roads in cities, towns and rural routes are usually full of potholes and partly eroded repairs. Drivers should pay extra attention to road conditions and be prepared to brake or swerve round the worst damage.
Many of the major road routes between large towns are routinely being upgraded. While in the longer term, this can only be good news, drivers need to build in extra travel time to account for the risk of queuing in long lines of traffic. Being in a hurry to reach a destination will increase the risk of an accident occurring.
Rural Polish roads are often narrow and edged with a ditch or gully. As there are few pavements or sidewalks for pedestrians, they have to walk along the edge of the road. This can be particularly hazardous after dark.
Poles are enthusiastic cyclists, and people of all ages will cycle along the road. Most Poles do not use helmets or other safety equipment, so pose a particular risk for mishap. In rural areas, the bicycle can be a family’s only mode of transport. Expect to see some cyclists carrying large and cumbersome loads, including large logs for burning at home. Dogs, cats and wild animals also have free reign over the countryside, and may stray onto the road.
Be prepared to break or swerve as oncoming traffic approaches on narrow roads. Poland has a lot of heavy industry, and in many rural areas logging is also a big business concern. Drivers should look out for approaching large lorries, which will swerve into the opposite flow of traffic where they negotiate corners on the narrow roads. Road markings are rare on smaller Polish roads, and some rural drivers have an unfair concept of the proportion of road meant for them.
One of the more difficult parts of a drive in an unfamiliar country is to stay en-route. When undertaking a complex route or journey, try to remember the first destination place name on a new road on your route. Many directional road signs on smaller rural roads will list that first village destination over the name of a larger town further down the road.
Motoring In Poland Isn’t All Bad News
Many drivers in Poland are courteous and patient, and traffic speed is generally calmer than in many European countries. Although many more Poles own cars these days, Polish roads are still comparatively quiet outside the major cities.
All motorists drive with their headlights on, day or night. This is the law, and it helps reduce the numbers of accidents during dull weather.
With Poland’s heavy drinking culture, it comes as no surprise to learn that excess alcohol traditionally causes many Polish roads accidents. To combat the poor traffic accident record, Poland has now introduced an almost zero tolerance level towards drink driving, and penalties for those caught ignoring the rules are steep.
In common with most other countries across the world, Poland drives on the right, meaning that the car controls will be familiar for many tourists.
With a little extra care and attention on the roads, the traveller can get the most out of rural Poland through a car hire. Enjoy the ride!
