As a driving school from Warsaw, we will tell this story to the warning… It happened in January this year, when the new regulations came into force. Patrick, an experienced driver aged 40, drove his sedan into the parking lot of the company he worked in.

It probably wouldn’t be surprising if it wasn’t for the fact that he was driving a zigzag and constantly honking on other drivers who wanted to park. It was morning and people were in a hurry to work, but when he showed up in the parking lot, everyone stood wry looking at the unusual event.

Patrick alternated and slowed down, nervously gesturing on pedestrians and throwing profanity at them. Finally, someone from the crowd flew up to him as he stopped and got into an altercation with a colleague from the company, then opened the door of his car and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

A man reached for his phone and called the police, who showed up remarkably quickly. Patrick at the sight of the police officers paled and softened. He voluntarily underwent a sobriety test by the first police officer. Its result was more than 3.4 per mile of alcohol in the body.

Meanwhile, the second officer, who checked his data in the police car, reported that Patrick was in the system as a road recidivist with two active driving bans and revoked permissions…

How did the story of the intoxicated driver turn out? About that in a moment. First, we will explain what changes in the regulations the year 2026 brought and why it is worth making a category B license before September…

What has changed since January 1, 2026? Driving school from Warsaw indicates what drivers should know

Since the beginning of the year, there has been a tightening of regulations for drivers of vehicles. And so they have fallen more responsibility or harsher consequences for the most dangerous offences. In addition, the duties of drivers have been clarified.

Thanks to these changes, prison can threaten not only the perpetrator of the accident, but also for participation in illegal races, failure to comply with the court ban on driving or for a particularly dangerous ride.

What changes have taken place in the Penal Code? OSK from Warsaw indicates what drivers can be punished with a mandate

• If we take part in illegal races involving at least two vehicles, we will face punishment.
• If we deliberately put the car in the skid or detachment of the wheels from the surface during illegal rallies, we will answer from article 178c, as well as the organizer of these races.
• If we grossly exceed the speed limit, violate the rules of traffic and expose other people to immediate danger of loss of health or life, then we will commit the crime of bravado driving from article 178d.
• If we deliberately slip the vehicle or lead to loss of contact between the wheels and the surface, in the light of article 86c, we will commit the offense.
• If we are in the role of spectators of these illegal races, we will also face a penalty from article 52aa.
• If we plan to organize a rally in the open, which concerns more than ten vehicles, we need to notify the relevant municipal authority.

What changes have occurred in the penalty point tariffer? The OSK from the capital indicates how many penalty points the driver will pay

• If we cause an accident in an illegal race, driving a vehicle despite a driving ban or grossly exceeding the speed limit, we can collect 15 penalty points.
• If we use the vehicle in a way that threatens the safety of other traffic participants or causes a traffic hazard due to so-called drifting or driving on the rear wheel, we are threatened with 12 penalty points in the event that a collision occurs during their time (if not, 10 penalty points are provided).
• It is worth bearing this in mind that the limit of points after which we will lose the right is 24 points, and in the case of young drivers with a license for less than a year: 20 points.

What other rules have come into effect since the New Year? The driving school from Warsaw indicates what drivers should pay special attention to

• From now on, the ambulance can also use buses without the use of sound and light signals.
• In addition, electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles can move on the buspas by 31 December 2027.
• Some more serious offences will no longer be subject to a reduction in penalty points after completing the course in WORD.
• The practical exam in WORD may be interrupted before all the prescribed tasks are performed if the behavior of the examinee endangers the life or health of the examiner or other traffic participant.
• Obtaining a driving license will be under the new rules, which we have already written about in an earlier article.

Who has to ride in a protective helmet? The driving school from Warsaw indicates what changes in the regulations apply to a bicycle or an electric scooter

• From March 3, 2026, the age of a child traveling with an electric scooter or a personal transport device has been increased to the age of 13.
• If the child is in the care of an adult, he can use an electric scooter under the age of 13.
• People up to the age of 16 will have to wear a protective helmet when moving by bicycle, electric scooter or other personal transport device.
• You can transport a child under the age of 7 by bicycle, provided that he will wear a protective helmet and we will protect them in an additional saddle, car seat or in a trailer adapted to the carriage of people.
• If we decide on the last two variants, we do not have to dress the child in a protective helmet, it is enough that we fasten them with a seat belt.
• The new rules prohibit the carriage of a child by a bicycle with a drive in a trailer to protect them from burning exhaust gas from an exhaust pipe facing him.

Why should you make a category B license before starting a new school year? The driving school from Warsaw explains what changes will come into effect on September 3, 2026

Firstly, because from September 3, 2026, every driver obtaining a category B driving licence for the first time will be covered by a trial period.

What are the main rules of this trial period?

• Duration. The standard is 2 years for adults. For 17-year-olds, this period will extend to 3 years, unless they reach the age of 20 earlier.
• Ruthless sobriety. There is a limit of 0.0‰ alcohol in the body.
• Speed limits. Slower driving – up to 50 km/h in the built-up area, 80 km/h outside it and 100 km/h on motorways and expressways (for the first 8 months).
• Punishment points and training. After exceeding 12 points, paid practical training in ODTJ is required. The commission of two offences extends the trial period by another 2 years.
• Vehicle designation. The need to place a sticker with a “green leaf” on the car window for the first 8 months.
• Restrictions for 17-year-olds. To the age of majority driving only with an experienced passenger (at least 25 years, driving license for 5 years) and a ban on working as a courier or taxi driver.

Secondly, because the penalty for driving after stopping the driver’s license will be tightened. Earlier, when the driver was driving after stopping the license for three months (for example, for speeding by more than 50 km/h), then his driver’s license was retained for an additional three months. From now on, his powers will be fully revoked for a period of five years.

Summary. Driving school from Warsaw reveals how the story from the first paragraph turned out

Patrick was brought before a high court and heard a conviction:

„In the light of the new regulations,” said the judge, „I acknowledge the guilty of the charges presented and I pronounce a lifetime ban on you from driving motor vehicles, I impose on you a penalty of one year and two months of absolute imprisonment, the obligation to pay a benefit of 10 thousand zlotys to the Victims’ Relief Fund and a reference of 6 thousand zlotys to the State Treasury…

The judge looked at Patrick, who paled momentarily without expecting such a sentence, and thick drops of tears gathered under his eyes.

„I think,” said the judge, „that the head of the driving school from Warsaw, where you were doing a course for category B, to put it mildly, is not proud of you now…