Polish Roads

Polish Roads are legendery as being the most deadly roads in Europe. People drive on the right of the road, (most of the time), the same as all European Countries apart from the UK. The countries Roads have similar road markings and features as the rest of Europe. One idiosyncrasy is at Accident Black Spots where there is usually a sign showing how many people have died. You will also see candles and flower laid out, apparently at random on many roads. Normally this is due to a fatal accident at that particular place, these signs are headed "wypadki" accident. Sometimes these accidents are commemorated for many years. Poland has the reputation of the deadliest roads in Europe.

Below is a Map of the major roads in Poland, the country has only one motorway in the south running through Rzeszow (Rzeshoof), Krakow (Crakoov), Opole, Close to Wroclaw (Rotswaf), and over the German border to Berlin. This is a two lane Motorway and is very good. If you travel this road there are very few places to eat or drink so take something with you.

Apart from the E40 Motorway the road system is improving although very slowly most heavy freight is still moved by train. The secondary road system is rather different to Europe in that it is two way with room for one and a half cars per side, plus a 1.5 Meter run off area in most places, marked with a white line. If you want to overtake the idea is that the overtakee moves into this narrow lane at the right hand side, leaving room for you to pass, that is, providing nobody is overtaking in the oncoming direction. So generally overtaking is largely in control of the person you wish to overtake. You can of course ignore this driver and do a chicken run, but it is not recommended until you have become familiar with Polish Road practice.

Cars on the roads have improved dramatically in the last fifteen years, at that time Fiat 500's (Roller Skates) and the Russian Lada, pronounced (Wada) accounted for 80% of cars on the road. Very often a driver would be held up in a long queue by a Small Fiat running at 25 Kilometres per hour. If you were very unlucky it could be a horse and cart at a much slower speed.

If you are planning a trip I would suggest allowing 60Km per hour out of town and much much more in any of the major cities.