Don’t laugh, Poland is tackling car pollution!

Does Europe force its member states to establish low-emission zones? Poland has a brilliant method!

On Monday, July 1, 2024, Poland’s first Clean Transport Zone (SCT), equivalent to our Low Emission Zones (LEZ), was established in Warsaw. This zone follows the French model where only vehicles that meet defined emission standards are allowed to circulate. But its operation is wonderfully simple.

The Warsaw SCT is a 37 square kilometer area that covers most of the city center and surrounding neighborhoods. The entry ban into this SCT only applies to gasoline cars manufactured before 1997 and diesel cars manufactured before 2005. Motorcycles, scooters, and quad bikes are still allowed to circulate there. In the event of a check, you simply need to prove that your vehicle is compliant by presenting the registration certificate. A small sign at the entrance of the zone, but no automatic plate checks or ground markings. In Poland, no one is supposed to ignore the law. And if you want peace of mind, you just need to print a small sticker yourself and place it on your windshield. Creating it on the dedicated site takes just a few minutes, and you only need to pay a fee of 5 zlotys, which is just over 1 euro!

But who does it concern?

In any case, according to the Warsaw Municipal Authority, the vast majority of vehicles meet the requirements, so broadly speaking, there is no problem, and trust is given.

But let’s assume your vehicle isn’t eligible. The list of exceptions is endless! Professional use, transporting people, elderly individuals, disabled persons, foreign citizens, historic vehicles, … And especially all residents of the Warsaw metropolitan area! In short, you would really have to be unlucky not to have the right to circulate.

And if you really are unlucky and get caught, you could receive a maximum fine of 500 zlotys. However, for a few months, the officers will simply focus on education. Lastly, the municipality allows occasional entry into the zone for 4 days a year… So you have 4 wild cards to use over 12 months.

Yes, but still, is banning polluting cars from city centers good for the planet and our children? But in Poland, all historical city centers are pedestrianized! Scooters and rental bikes have dedicated parking spots and are meticulously maintained.

But back to the SCTs. The requirements will increase every two years, so new restrictions should be applied on July 1, 2026… or not.

Safety before ecology in Poland

Do you find all this a bit lax, a bit light? Well, know that in Poland, the priority is road safety. Driving is prohibited for anyone with a blood alcohol level above… 0. Total prohibition of circulating after drinking even just one glass. Driving under the influence of drugs means permanent revocation of the license. Any failure to present the driving license or registration certificate is punishable by a heavy fine and immediate immobilization of the vehicle. Any refusal to comply or endangering law enforcement will land you in prison.

These are, of course, two opposing visions of car consumption. It is up to each person to criticize one or the other, but opening the debate on the priority between the somewhat anti-car struggle against very localized emissions or the ultra-repressive fight against road violence does not hurt.

ALSO READ: Where do cities deploying LEZs in France stand?