During the summer season and on public holidays, a summer driving ban or temporary restrictions apply on Polish roads for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) over 12 tons. For the transport and freight forwarding industry, this information is crucial. It cannot be overlooked, especially in the summer, when increased traffic on national and international routes can significantly disrupt the timely execution of transport orders. It is essential to keep the summer driving ban in mind during this period.
The main goal of these restrictions is to improve road safety for all users and to increase road capacity during the most critical periods, those moments when hundreds of thousands of people set off on holiday trips, and the main roads leading out of large cities and to popular tourist destinations become heavily congested.
As every year, the 2025 summer traffic ban will once again apply under Polish regulations, which specify several key dates and times when the movement of heavy vehicles is restricted.
➡️ Dates and hours of the traffic ban:
🛑 Public Holidays
On all legally recognized public holidays, the traffic ban applies to trucks over 12 tons between:
08:00 – 22:00
This applies to both national holidays and other days off work, such as Christmas, Easter, All Saints’ Day, or Independence Day.
🛑 Days preceding public holidays
On the days immediately before public holidays, the traffic ban applies between:
18:00 – 22:00
This measure helps ease traffic flow for people leaving cities and improves road conditions on major routes the day before public holidays.
🛑 Summer driving ban – Summer 2025
During the summer season, from June 27 to August 31, 2025, additional restrictions apply to truck traffic:
- Friday: 18:00 – 22:00
- Saturday: 08:00 – 14:00
- Sunday: 08:00 – 22:00
These are the times when roads are usually most congested with tourist traffic. Therefore, when planning transport during this period, special attention should be paid to adjusting schedules accordingly.
Exemptions from the traffic ban
The restrictions do not apply to all vehicles. There is a list of exemptions that allow certain types of transport to operate even during restricted hours.
The traffic ban does not apply to vehicles transporting:
- perishable goods, such as fresh food,
- fuel,
- live animals,
- medicines and medical supplies,
- postal shipments,
- equipment and supplies for emergency and rescue services.
The complete list of exemptions is available in the Regulation of the Minister of Transport dated July 31, 2007 (Journal of Laws 2021, item 783). We strongly recommend that every carrier thoroughly familiarize themselves with the regulations and always carry documentation confirming eligibility for exemptions when travelling during restricted periods.
Tips for carriers and freight forwarders
When planning transport within Poland during the summer and holiday season, it is important to remember a few key principles:
✔️ Route Planning
We recommend factoring these restrictions into your transport schedules. This helps avoid unforeseen delays, downtime, and financial penalties for violating traffic bans.
✔️ Monitoring Official Updates
Stay up to date with information from the Chief Inspectorate of Road Transport (GITD) and local road authorities regarding traffic conditions, changes to traffic organization, or additional restrictions.
✔️ Exemption Documentation
If your transport qualifies for an exemption, always carry the proper documentation. This prevents misunderstandings during roadside inspections.
This is the final post in this year’s series “Summer Traffic Bans in Europe 2025.” Thank you for following along and staying informed about the most important regulations across different European countries.
📧 If you need a reliable transport partner for your shipments across Poland and Europe, contact us at offer@exportsy.pl – we will plan your route, check the current regulations, and ensure your cargo arrives safely and on time.
