Driving across Poland

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Edited by: Moderator Jun 5, 11, 12:29 #1

An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side which forces drivers to drive with two wheels on the verge to let speeders by. Used to be that a driver drove along at his own speed and it was up to the speeder who regarded it as too slow to overtake on the left if he felt so inclined. When was this practice of rural zigzag driving introduced? Is it known in other countries?

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Edited by: Moderator Jun 5, 11, 14:16 #2

Polonius3:

An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side which forces drivers to drive with two wheels on the verge to let speeders by.

Nothing new. It's been done in other countries for years, particularly Ireland.

Anyway, no-one is "forced" - it's just polite to move over if someone wishes to overtake, in order to make it easier for them. However, many people don't do it.

Polonius3:

Used to be that a driver drove along at his own speed and it was up to the speeder who regarded it as too slow to overtake on the left if he felt so inclined. When was this practice of rural zigzag driving introduced?

AvalonThreads: 3 Posts: 812 Joined: Sep 11, 07 ♂	Jun 5, 11, 14:52 #3
Polonius3: An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side That lane is for Maluchs or so I was told when I first came to Poland.

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,395 Joined: May 30, 08 ♂	Jun 5, 11, 22:37 #4
Polonius3: An odd practice on Poliand's 2-lane highways is an added half-lane on either side which forces drivers to drive with two wheels on the verge to let speeders by. It is a Polish style motorway. Used with common sense, is as good as regular highway.

Belgrade	Jun 5, 11, 23:34 #5
We do that in Serbia too! However the roads do not look nearly so nice as in that picture...

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07 ♂	Jun 6, 11, 00:52 #6
It gets a bit tricky when you pull into this empty lane on your left get stuck in it for a few hundred yards while a load of cars pass you , then around the corner you find.... A polish family having a picnik in the lane... or a bunch of peeps selling apples and mushrooms...!

peter_olsztynThreads: 8 Posts: 760 Joined: Apr 18, 07 ♂	Jun 6, 11, 02:16 #7
Polonius3: Is it known in other countries? I think it is verboten in Germany and we shouldn't do it anymore due to increased number of bicyclists and scooters. They are almost still in comparison with the cars running about 130km/h

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09 ♂	Jun 6, 11, 02:54 #8
wildrover: or a bunch of peeps selling apples and mushrooms...! and other, erm.... Services...

FlaglessPoleThreads: 7 Posts: 1,394 Joined: Aug 19, 10 ♂	Jun 6, 11, 03:14 #9
ShawnH: and other, erm.... Services... ...talk about speed dating

ShawnHThreads: 9 Posts: 3,056 Joined: Jul 2, 09 ♂	Jun 6, 11, 03:21 #10
FlaglessPole: ...talk about speed dating I thought that they had car detailing services behind the camper off the driveway..... Polishing, rust removal, spit shine on the old drive shaft.....

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Edited by: Antek_Stalich Jun 6, 11, 12:02 #11

The style of the freeway discussed in this thread will certainly (and unluckily for drivers!) change very soon. Last night I drove by the E2 part from Łowicz towards Warsaw. The number of islands for pedestrian and making the left-turn safer was enormous. In fact, I had a single chance to overtake a truck on the whole route Łowicz - Błonie. Yeah, such islands increase the safety in one respect but these are curse for a tired driver at night... I almost drove into two of them...

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Jun 6, 11, 13:09 #12

Antek_Stalich:

The number of islands for pedestrian and making the left-turn safer was enormous. In fact, I had a single chance to overtake a truck on the whole route Łowicz - Błonie. Yeah, such islands increase the safety in one respect but these are curse for a tired driver at night

They are definatly a good idea... but do they really need to have these super bright flashing arrows to tell you the island is there....?

The lights are needed , but they are so bright that they dazzle you , and you can,t see if there are any people crossing... They destroy your night vision for several vital seconds.....

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Edited by: Antek_Stalich Jun 6, 11, 13:24 #13

Wildie, the islands are one of major reasons I avoid principal roads. After 20 km of night driving after a truck at 70 km/h, I'm getting very sleepy and wake up only to avoid the collision with an island. I do not say the islands are wrong, the single carriageway roads are wrong. Especially those passing inhabited areas. The commie road planners should have their bollocks cut off for that!

Last night, I saw something worse than the flashing lights at the safety islands. I drive and SEE WAT?! Some UFO coming in my direction from the opposite lane! Something flashing so strongly I'm losing my night vision and desperately try to keep up along the road axis! WAT DO?!

It was !@#$%^& cyclist, making him VISIBLE... Sheesh...

GrzegorzK	Jun 6, 11, 13:35 #14
Its been this way for a while... you might run into some crazy locals that will speed by your frequently.

polishmeknobThreads: 12 Posts: 162 Joined: Feb 9, 09 ♂	Jun 6, 11, 18:24 #15
Better get your shocks spruced up before starting out.

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