Poland expands traffic penalties and driver‑exam reforms

Polish traffic law prohibits the use of a handheld phone while driving, imposing a fine of 500 zł and 12 penalty points. The rule applies to cars, motorcycles and even cyclists, but not to cyclists for points. Legal phone use is limited to when the vehicle is parked and the engine is off; navigation can be used if the phone is in a holder. When a speed camera records a violation, the image is sent to the Central Automatic Traffic Supervision Centre (CANARD). The first contact is a request for the vehicle owner to identify the driver; this can arrive weeks after the flash. The offence remains prosecutable for up to two years if the procedure is started within a year. Paying highway tolls with a phone at a booth is also classified as handheld‑phone use during driving, attracting the same 500 zł fine and 12 points. Drivers are advised to pay with cash, a physical card, a smartwatch or via licence‑plate‑recognition systems. A government amendment to the public‑transport law raises fees that private bus operators must pay for using municipal stops (up to 0.20 zł per stop) and stations (up to 5.00 zł per stop). FlixBus says the change will not be passed on to ticket prices. The driver‑licence reform eliminates the mandatory manoeuvring test area for category B, introduces a digital trainee card that logs every lesson with GPS data, limits daily exam attempts and extends the theoretical‑exam validity to 24 months. The aim is to improve exam integrity and road‑safety preparation. Owners installing a tow‑hook must undergo a technical inspection and register the equipment.