Before you „hit the road”
Give your car a technical check-up
Before setting off check your car for its technical fitness, for instance the tyre pressure, oil level, brakes. See whether you have enough fuel in the tank and windscreen liquid.
Plan your route
Plan your journey carefully. Check the weather forecast and plan the route in detail.
Secure your baggage
Arrange your baggage in the car or boot so as to prevent its shifting while driving or rapid braking, or obstructing your view. A blanket or coat, and a pair of comfortable walking shoes are recommendable, just in case.
Set off with an adequate time margin
Plan your journey so that you have enough time to give yourself a break every two hours, especially if you have a long way to go.
Do not drive, if you are tired or have had a drink
Do not ever sit behind the wheel if you have had a drink. Even the tiniest alcohol content in the blood reduces the driving skills. Being tired you also run a higher accident risk.
On the road
Keep within the speed limits
You can use the motorway provided your vehicle, trailer included, if any, can reach the minimum speed of 40 km/h along an even and flat stretch of road. The speed limit on the Polish motorways is 130 km/h.
Join in the traffic smoothly
When entering the motorway make the maximum use of the acceleration lane and aim at a smooth entry into the traffic lane. If the acceleration lane is about to finish, slow down gaining time to slip in at the appropriate moment. By all means try to avoid stopping. Being immobile you will find it even harder and more dangerous to join the traffic.
You will also need special concentration when leaving the motorway. While approaching the exit keep to the slow lane. If you miss the exit, never attempt to reverse, even along the emergency lane. Doing so you will create an immense threat which may carry grave consequences. Simply continue to the next exit from the motorway, then make your turn on the local road, and return to the motorway taking the opposite direction.
Travel along the outer lane
The main traffic travels along the outer lane. The inner lane is reserved for overtaking. Always indicate your intention to do so before you change the lane, then return to the right once you have completed your maneouvre.
Keep a safe distance
Do not follow the car preceding you too closely. To make sure you are keeping the proper two-second distance measure the time starting the moment when the car in front of you passes the reference landmark you have selected. If you reach the same point before your count to two, you are too close. Adjust your travelling speed to the conditions on the road. If the course is too slippery or the visibility is low, slow down and change your distance to four seconds.
Keep focused on the road and your car
The situation on the motorway changes very quickly. The travelling speeds are high. Therefore, you must be alert and in full control of your car. Anticipate the developments observing the traffic, regularly check your rear view. Be constantly aware of your own speed. You will not be in full control, if you read the map or documents, eat or drink. If you need to do any of these things, stop at the nearest service area.
Do not use your mobile phone while driving. Talking on the telephone you lose your focus. Instead, with your own safety and the safety of those travelling with you in mind, use the mobile loudspeaker system or switch to the call redirection mode. If needed, stop at the nearest service area to read the received messages or call back.
Be particularly cautious when close to a TIR truck, lorry, or any large vehicle. Their drivers have to deal with a much larger dead visibility area and a far longer response time. Take special precautions noticing motorway maintenance gear on the road.
Do not stop on the motorway.
Never stop on the motorway, whatever the reason. The extra shoulder lane beyond the continuous line is not a parking lot! It is there for emergencies only. The only place on the motorway where you can stop is a dedicated car park or service area.
Reversing or making U-turns on the motorway are forbidden. The same applies to towing, except for special purpose vehicles, and even then only to the nearest exit or service area.
Maneouvre smoothly and fluently.
Whatever your maneouvre, do it smoothly and calmly. The most frequent causes of incidents on the motorway include the loss of control of the car when rapidly changing the lane. Remember, your car, dashing at more than 100 km/h (up to 130 km/h), responds differently than when driving slower in the city. Besides, let other motorway users do their maneourves safely. If you realise that in a moment the car on your right will be blocked by a slower driving truck, slow down a bit so that the driver can slip in front of you and overtake the truck instead of braking head first.
Slow down, if you can see a traffic jam ahead
The moment you notice the first symptoms of accumulating traffic, slow down. Drivers have developed a good custom of turning on the warning lights when they see a traffic jam ahead. Your lights will warn the others behind you and the risk of a multiple crash will go down substantially. However, you should only turn on the warning lights seeing the car line behind you building up.
Hopping between the lanes to move faster is most strictly forbidden. However, if another driver presses on changing into your lane, let him/her do it. When the number of free lanes is reduced and the traffic builds up, the zip rule steps in: the drivers take turns coming in from the left and right.
Take breaks
If you feel you are getting tired or sleepy, drive off at the nearest service area. A 15-minute rest is recommended every two hours, especially on a long journey. Having stopped, take a nap or have a cup of coffee.
Emergency or car crash
Wear a reflective vest
Wearing a fluorescent reflective vest is an absolute must. It does not matter, whether you intend to change a tyre, or replenish your windscreen liquid, or perhaps you are giving first aid to the injured, or walking along the emergency lane to reach the nearest emergency phone.
Move the damaged car off the traffic lane
If you cannot avoid stopping because your car has broken, get it as far right as you can. Leave the car through the right door facing the road shoulder. Take your passengers out and lead them beyond the side barrier. All too frequently, when a crash or incident occurs the driver and his/her passengers forget to leave the car and move off to the shoulder. Instead, they stay inside in a convict-like manner waiting to be crashed into from behind. If you travel with a pet, leave it in the car, or keep it under close control behind the barrier.
Get help
Get help if your car has broken or is involved in a crash. You can use the emergency telephones along the motorway. You will find one every two kilometres on each side of the road. Never cross the motorway to reach the emergency phone. If you have a mobile phone on you, it will be quicker, i.e. safer to use it straight away. Call the emergency number: 112, or the Motorway Management Centre directly under number: (0) 58 530 66 66. If the incident involves victims, follow the road accident procedure.
Warn other drivers
In case of a motorway incident the first thing to do is to warn others. Turn on your warning lights and put up the warning triangle. You can actually use anything to warn the on-coming drivers – anything that will be visible at a distance like e.g. extra strobe lights on the roof, flares, or fluorescent candles. In practice, instead of warning others, drivers inspect the damages and estimate their loss. Remember, a warning from you translates to safety of your own self, your passengers, and other road users.
Do not take the on-coming cars by surprise. Before you choose the place for your warning triangle check whether you are not out of view because of the bend or hill you have just negotiated. The braking distance on the motorway exceeds 100 metres. At the speed of 130 km/h it can even be 130 metres. The response time is also longer. Therefore, for safety, you can put up your triangle earlier than 100 metres before your car. Extending the distance is not against the law. You will contravene the regulations, if you put your warning sign right after the vehicle or neglect to put it up at all in belief that the warning lights will suffice. They will not be enough! While carrying the triangle keep to the road shoulder, not the lane. Walking on the road you are a real threat!
