ExpresswayPoland

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Poland. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


3. Expressway

An expressway is a road intended to carry through traffic efficiently, usually at higher speeds than ordinary roads. Expressways often have limited access, multiple lanes, separated carriageways or grade-separated junctions, but their design and legal status vary between countries.

An expressway is not always a motorway. It may have intersections, traffic lights or direct access, and the permitted road users, speed limits and special rules depend on local signs and regulations.

Expressway
Entrance to the Marki bypass at the Marki interchange. (Marki, Poland)
Wikimedia.org • Crusier • CC BY-SA
How do people refer to an expressway in Poland?

The Polish term is droga ekspresowa. An expressway can have one or two carriageways, which affects its general car speed limit.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

Start of an expressway. Start of an expressway.

English • Traffic sign D-7 • Expressway. Sign D-7 marks the beginning or continuation of an expressway. Its end is marked by D-8, End of expressway.

Polski • D-7 • droga ekspresowa. Znak D-7 „droga ekspresowa” oznacza początek lub kontynuację drogi ekspresowej; koniec drogi ekspresowej oznaczony jest znakiem D-8 „koniec drogi ekspresowej”.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Eli.gov.pl • § 48 ust. 1

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Author not stated on source page • Public domain • Original revision 2025-10-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Polish official sign catalogue, Dz.U. 2019 poz. 2310: Eli.gov.pl • D-7, PDF page 44, with amendments 2021/433, 2021/2065, 2022/2372 and 2026/133 checked. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

End of the expressway. End of the expressway.

English • Traffic sign D-8 • End of expressway. Sign D-7, Expressway, marks the beginning or continuation of an expressway. Its end is marked by D-8.

Polski • D-8 • koniec drogi ekspresowej. Znak D-7 „droga ekspresowa” oznacza początek lub kontynuację drogi ekspresowej; koniec drogi ekspresowej oznaczony jest znakiem D-8 „koniec drogi ekspresowej”.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Eli.gov.pl • § 48 ust. 1

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Szczepan dyskusja Mail 18:29, 31 December 2006 (UTC) • Public domain • Original revision 2025-10-11. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Polish official sign catalogue, Dz.U. 2019 poz. 2310: Eli.gov.pl • D-8, PDF page 44, with amendments 2021/433, 2021/2065, 2022/2372 and 2026/133 checked. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

What speed limit applies to cars on an expressway in Poland?

For an ordinary car, the maximum is 120 km/h on a dual-carriageway expressway and 100 km/h on a single-carriageway expressway. Lower signs and vehicle-specific restrictions apply.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

Who may use an expressway in Poland?

Expressways are reserved for motor vehicles, excluding quadricycles. Pedestrians and bicycles cannot use them. The motorway’s specific design-speed admission wording should not be assumed to be the expressway definition.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

Can I reverse on a Polish expressway after missing an exit?

No. Reversing on an expressway is prohibited. Continue to the next permitted exit and choose another route; do not use the shoulder to return to the missed exit.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

1 Poland 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Built-up area 6 Zone 7 Speed limit 8 Footpath 9 Bike path 10 Shared-use path 11 Separated path 12 Pedestrian warning 13 Tunnel 14 Speed bump 15 Toll road 16 Customs 17 One-way traffic 18 Quay 19 Slope 20 Bus lane 21 Bus stop 22 Dead end 23 Stop sign 24 Give way 25 Roundabout 26 Priority road 27 Road narrowing 28 Priority over oncoming traffic 29 Give way to oncoming traffic 30 Pedestrian crossing 31 Railway crossing 32 Mandatory direction 33 Turn prohibition 34 School area 35 Overtaking 36 Crossing animals 37 Curve 38 Chevron 39 Wrong-way driving 40 Roadworks 41 Height limit 42 Weight limit 43 Radar speed sign 44 Priority at the next junction 45 Traffic lights 46 Traffic lights warning 47 Pedestrian lights 48 Road markings 49 Junction layout 50 Driving licence 51 Traffic mirror 52 International border 53 Pedestrian underpass 54 Cycling route 55 Parking 56 No parking 57 No stopping 58 Park and ride 59 Kiss and ride 60 Disabled parking 61 Traffic management 62 Merging 63 Reversing 64 U-turn 65 Road surface 66 Provisional licence 67 Hazardous cargo 68 Radio service 69 Tourist attraction 70 Horn 71 Licence plate 72 Charging station 73 Dangers 74 Rail safety 75 Pedestrian 76 Cyclist 77 Car 78 Truck 79 Bus 80 Police 81 Ambulance 82 Taxi 83 European emission standard 84 Public road 85 Pothole 86 Private property 87 Path 88 Particulates 89 Air pollution 90 Rush hour 91 Road code 92 Two-way traffic 93 Street gutter 94 Cargo bike 95 Forestry vehicle 96 Construction vehicle 97 Semi-trailer truck 98 Trolleybus 99 Speed pedelec 100 Delivery vehicle ...