The changes that will enter into force on March 3 are the result of an amendment to the Road Traffic Law and certain other acts prepared by the Ministry of Infrastructure. The aim is to improve road safety and the mobility of young people. The key change will be the extension of the rules on withholding driving licenses.
Drivers will lose their driving license for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km per hour. not only in built-up areas, but also on single-lane, two-way roads outside built-up areas. The Ministry of Infrastructure justifies this decision with statistics showing that most fatalities are the result of accidents outside built-up areas caused by driving at excessive speed.
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The ministry also plans to change the system of penalties for people disregarding the driving ban. A driver who drives despite having a suspended driving license or its electronic version will lose his driving license. So far, courts could only extend the ban to six months, which did not eliminate frequent violations of the driving ban.
Driving license for 17-year-olds with a guardian
With the new regulations, young Poles will be able to obtain a category B driving license after turning 17. The authors of the project are introducing this change following the example of solutions operating in Austria, Estonia, France, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Germany. However, it has limitations. Until the age of majority, a young driver will be able to drive a vehicle only when accompanied by an experienced guardian.
A 17-year-old's driving license will only be valid in Poland. Compulsory driving with a guardian will last half a year from receiving the document or until you reach the age of majority. The guardian must be at least 25 years old and have held a category B driving license for at least five years. He must also not have had a driving ban imposed in the last five years.
During a road check, the police will be able to check the guardian's blood alcohol content. This person cannot be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A young driver under 18 years of age will not be able to transport people by taxi or transport goods by road as a courier.
The drafters took into account the demands of agricultural communities in the amendment. The permissible speed of agricultural tractors will increase from 30 km per hour. up to 40 km per hour Supporters of this change argue that modern tractors are modern, safer than before and adapted to move at much higher speeds.
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This is not the end of the changes. From September 3, MI will introduce a two-year trial period for people who obtain a category B driving license for the first time. In the case of young drivers, this period will be extended to three years or will apply until the driver turns 20.
During the trial period, the driver will have to comply with the zero limit – 0.0 per mille of alcohol in the blood or 0.0 mg in 1 dm3 of exhaled air and 0.0 ng/ml of an agent that has a similar effect to alcohol in the body. Exceeding 12 penalty points during this time will result in the obligation to complete practical training in road traffic hazards. Committing two offenses during the probation period will extend it by another two years.
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Most of the regulations will enter into force on March 3 this year, while the regulations regarding trial periods will come into force only from September 3 this year.
