Poland tightens traffic rules for minors, making parents liable for unlicensed driving and missing helmets

Polish authorities are reviewing current traffic regulations that forbid driving without a licence. Proposed changes would allow learners to practice behind the wheel under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian who has at least five years of driving experience and meets other criteria, such as vehicle marking and registration.

Effective 3 June 2026, a new helmet mandate requires children and adolescents under 16 to wear certified protective headgear when using bicycles, e‑bikes, electric scooters or personal transport devices. The law places responsibility on parents or guardians: failure to ensure the child wears a helmet that meets the EN 1078 (PN‑EN 1078) standard can result in a fine of up to 100 złoty. The regulation also applies to children as young as seven when they are carried on bike trailers or in bike‑mounted seats. Experts stress that helmets must display the appropriate CE markings and be properly fitted, and that any helmet involved in a crash should be replaced.