MotorwayPoland

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.


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.

A1 motorway near Piotrków Trybunalski. (Poland)
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

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

Start of a motorway. 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. 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

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

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

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

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

🔗 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 ...