MotorwayPoland
2. Motorway
A motorway is a road specially designed and signposted for motor traffic. Motorways normally have separate carriageways for opposing traffic, controlled access through designated entrances and exits, no direct access to neighbouring properties, and no level crossings with other roads, railways or paths.
Special traffic rules apply on motorways. The permitted road users, speed limits, lane rules, tolls and emergency procedures vary between countries, so drivers must follow the local traffic signs and regulations.
Wikimedia.org • Omega933 • CC BY-SA
How do people refer to a motorway in Poland?
The Polish term is autostrada. A droga ekspresowa is an expressway, with separate limits depending on its carriageway layout.
🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49
Start of a motorway.
English • Traffic sign D-9 • Motorway. Sign D-9 marks the beginning or continuation of a motorway. Its end is marked by D-10, End of motorway.
Polski • D-9 • autostrada. Znak D-9 „autostrada” oznacza początek lub kontynuację autostrady; koniec autostrady oznaczony jest znakiem D-10 „koniec autostrady”.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Eli.gov.pl • § 48 ust. 2
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-9, 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 motorway.
English • Traffic sign D-10 • End of motorway. Sign D-9, Motorway, marks the beginning or continuation of a motorway. Its end is marked by D-10.
Polski • D-10 • koniec autostrady. Znak D-9 „autostrada” oznacza początek lub kontynuację autostrady; koniec autostrady oznaczony jest znakiem D-10 „koniec autostrady”.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Eli.gov.pl • § 48 ust. 2
SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Krzysztof Blachnicki • 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-10, 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 a motorway in Poland?
For an ordinary passenger car without a trailer, the general maximum is 140 km/h. Obey lower posted limits and reduce speed when traffic, weather or visibility requires it. Different limits can apply to other vehicle classes.
🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49
Who may use a motorway in Poland?
Motorways are normally reserved for eligible motor vehicles, excluding quadricycles, that can reach at least 40 km/h on a level road, including when towing a trailer. Vehicles performing road cleaning, repair or modernisation work have an access exception and must display yellow flashing lights. Pedestrians and cyclists cannot use them. This is an admission condition, not permission to obstruct faster traffic.
🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49
What should I do if I miss a motorway exit in Poland?
Continue to the next exit and choose a safe onward route. Do not reverse, make a U-turn or cross the central reservation to return to a missed exit.
🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 2(3)–(4), 16, 19–20, 31, 49

Traffic rules
Poland