Driving license for 17 years? A revolution in road regulations

Cyclists, young drivers and scooter users will face new regulations. The project assumes stricter penalties and control of electric vehicles.

The Parliament is working on changes to the Road Traffic Act, which introduce a number of important modifications for cyclists, users of electric scooters and young drivers. The most important of them concern the obligation to wear helmets, stricter penalties for speeding and the possibility of obtaining a driving license from the age of 17. The draft amendment aims to improve road safety, especially among children and youth.

– The Infrastructure Committee accepted my amendment, raising from 10 to 13 the age of a child who will be able to legally travel on a public road – a sidewalk, road or bicycle path – said Barbara Oliwiecka from Poland 2050, MP Barbara Oliwiecka from Poland 2050, during the parliamentary debate, quoted by Gazeta Prawna.

Helmet is mandatory only for electricians

According to the project, the obligation to wear a helmet would only apply to electric devices, i.e. scooters and electric bicycles. Ordinary bicycles will remain exempt from this obligation, although their use is recommended for safety.

– The most controversial issue is the obligation for users of bicycles, scooters and other personal transport devices to wear helmets. We propose to exclude muscle-powered vehicles, i.e. ordinary bicycles, from this obligation – explained MP Paulina Matysiak.

For children and adolescents up to 16 years of age, a helmet will remain mandatory. In the case of muscle-powered bicycles, the lack of it will not be punished, which is in line with the practices of most European countries.

Driving license for 17 years?

The amendment also introduces the possibility of applying for a category B driving license for persons over 17 years of age. It will be subject to written consent from parents or legal guardians. Importantly, such a driving license would be issued for a trial period. For the so-called young drivers (i.e. those who start at the age of 17) this period would last three years, up to the age of 20.

During the trial period, young drivers will not be allowed to drive under the influence of alcohol, and people under 18 will only be allowed to drive in the presence of an experienced driver.

The project also provides for sanctions for offenses during the probationary period: after two violations, the period is extended, and in the event of further offenses, the starosta may decide to withdraw the driving license. Thanks to these solutions, cyclists, scooter users and young drivers will gain greater safety and a clear legal framework.

Road pirates finally censored

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Stanisław Bukowiec, informed that work is ongoing in the Extraordinary Codification Commission on the act on the so-called road pirates. The new regulations will introduce strict penalties for reckless driving, illegal racing, drifting and recidivism.

– For example, a driver who exceeds the speed limit on an expressway by more than 50%, i.e. 180 km/h at the speed limit of 120 km/h, will be liable to a penalty, not just a fine. In Poland, we have over 200,000 recidivists who drive despite having their driving license revoked. They are also subject to stricter sanctions in the projects of the Ministry of Justice, explained Bukowiec.

The deputy minister also emphasized the need to introduce speed locks on scooters and electric bicycles.

– This is a real challenge – until recently, blockades were mechanical, today they are increasingly taking an electronic form. Therefore, in the draft act on vehicle approval, we are planning provisions enabling technical inspection of all vehicles, including scooters and electric bicycles. The Transport Technical Supervision will be responsible for supervising sellers and distributors to ensure that devices placed on the Polish market meet national safety standards, he noted.

Bukowiec also reminded that scooters should move at a maximum speed of 20 km/h, while in practice they often reach much higher speeds.

– We want to increase the powers of the Police and City Guards so that they can use inspection devices, e.g. dynamometers, to test these vehicles – he added.