Whats driving like in Poland?

Driving for me is the very worst thing about living in Poland. There is a perfect storm of factors making it a nightmare. Spend a full day on the road in Poland and you will feel very weary at the end of it.

- the drivers, without doubt there is a hardcore of maybe 10% who are the most aggressive in Europe. That means in a 200km journey you will be on the road with approx 60-70 real headcases

- inexperience, driving standards are improving but in the 90s the number of cars increased tenfold and it was possible to pass your test by bribing the examiner. The results are obvious, most often the people who indicate 5 or 10 metres before turning off.

- the Police. There are a lot more road cops than any other country I have driven in but perversley Poland still has one of the highest rate of deaths in the EU. Thats because they are more interested in collecting bribes than genuinely punishing dangerous drivers.

- the roads. Awful, much worse even than other ex-Commie neighbours like Czech and Lithuania. They are improving rapidly though.

- the cars. Horses and Carts are gone and Maluchs are almost gone but there is a new generation of second hand buses, Cinquecentos and Daewoo Matiz as well as that perennial Polish favorite, the drunk unlit cyclist.

Take care !

I once saw a man on a bicycle with a cow on a lead.

Sounds highspeed, lowdrag to me.

The main arterial roads are getting better, largely due to EU funding. But driving at night on the smaller roads out of town is lethal. There are no street lights or road markings, combined with the lunar landscape roads and psycho drivers in mark 1/2 VW Golf's mean that unless your trip is absolutely necessary, don't risk it!

Also have you noticed the amount of roads in residential areas in towns and villages that are simply just dirt tracks?

its all so true...

but lets give credit where its due...

at least most drivers in poland do actually indicate which is more than i can say for a lot in this dingy south coast city im holed up in atm

I am always nervous when driving in Poland more so than any other coutry i have ever been to. The cars and lorries coming in the opposite direction whilst overtaking almost give me a heart attack everytime.

What's wrong with a cinquecento damnit? ;)

Thread attached on merging:
DRIVING in POLAND

Yeh come on guys lets have it. Ive been driving in Poland for over two years now and I have to say I looooeuuVVVEEE it. Speeding in the outside lane overtaking on the inside ducking and diving overtaking and then braking hard when you see the Police. Its awesome, dont knock it folks we used to complain. Its every man for them selves a real Jungle out there. If you cant beat them join them.

Yes check the left and the right rear, it appears safe to change lanes now, wow hang on a minute theres a Golf GT sth flyinbg up outta no where.

hell yeah

i am more than capable of driving like a complete feking arsehole if appropriate... but its a concious decision and a choice i make... and thats the difference

What is the point in checking your mirror, indicating to pull out to overtake, when some P***k is overtaking you on the inside?

what about parking at shopping centres, what is the issue with not be able to park a car anything close to straight.