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Polish president OKs helmet rule for under-16s, tougher penalties for speeding

28.11.2025 11:45
Poland's president has approved changes to the country's traffic laws requiring riders under 16 to wear helmets on bicycles, electric scooters and other personal transport devices.
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Pixabay LicenseImage by Christian Bueltemann from Pixabay

President Karol Nawrocki signed the measure into effect after it was approved by both houses of parliament, state news agency PAP reported.

Under the law, the minimum legal age to ride an electric scooter on public roads in Poland will increase to 13.

The government has called the package a tool against repeat offenders.

Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak said the law would improve safety for children and teenagers, who often use personal transport devices.

He added that new rules aim to instill good habits in young drivers, and to make clear that drinking and driving do not mix.

The helmet rule will also apply when a young rider is under a parent’s or legal guardian’s supervision.

Children carried in an approved seat, or in a purpose-built passenger bicycle with factory-installed seat belts that prevent helmet use, are exempt.

License suspension, demerit points

The law targets drivers who ignore a temporary license suspension. A motorist who drives during such a suspension and is stopped by police will lose the license permanently, then may reapply after five years.

The law also ends the practice of wiping demerit points for serious offenses through training.

The measure restores the category B driver’s license for 17-year-olds with written parental or guardian consent.

For the first six months, or until turning 18, the young driver must be supervised by a person at least 25 years old with five years of driving experience, and may drive only in Poland.

In addition, the new regulation opens the way to license revocation for speeding by more than 50 km per hour, including outside built-up areas.

Other changes raise the top speed for farm tractors from 30 to 40 km per hour, allow emergency medical service vehicles to use bus lanes designated by local authorities, and increase the number of military vehicles permitted in a column.

Electric and hydrogen vehicles may continue to use bus lanes until December 31, 2027.

The new rules will take effect three months after publication, with some exceptions spelled out in the text.

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Source: IAR, PAP