From Saturday, 21 November, drivers who break selected bans at railway crossings will lose their driving licence for three months. The new sanction comes on top of the fine and penalty points.
Four behaviours that will lead to licence suspension
The change stems from the act of 8 October 2026 amending the Road Traffic Act and certain other acts. The draft was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 15 September, at the request of Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak. The amendment enters into force 14 days after publication in the Journal of Laws, that is, on 21 November.
The driving licence will be suspended for three months for:
- driving around lowered barriers or half-barriers,
- entering a crossing while barriers or half-barriers are being lowered, or before they have been fully raised,
- entering a crossing on a red light, a flashing red light, or two alternately flashing red lights,
- entering a crossing when there is no room to continue driving on the other side.
How the procedure will work
The officer will take the document on the spot, with a receipt issued. The starost will then issue an administrative decision suspending the driving licence for three months. The Chancellery of the Prime Minister stresses that the suspension will be independent of further proceedings concerning the offence.
The bans themselves have been in force for a long time. Police note that the additional sanction is what is new. These offences generally carry a fine of PLN 2,000 and 15 penalty points, and PLN 4,000 if the offence is repeated as recidivism.
Driving ban for those responsible for accidents
The draft also tightens the Penal Code. According to the government description, it provides for a mandatory driving ban, among others, for causing a catastrophe in transport. Data from the National Police Headquarters, cited by RMF24, indicate that the minimum ban is to be three years, and for causing a direct danger of catastrophe – at least one year. These details should be verified in the text of the act.
Accident statistics at crossings
According to police data, in 2024 there were 39 accidents at railway crossings, in which 23 people died. In 2025 there were 51 accidents and 27 fatalities. By the end of August 2026, 35 accidents were recorded, with 16 people killed and 40 injured. In more than 80 percent of cases the driver was at fault.
If a vehicle gets stuck on the tracks, it must be removed immediately, breaking the barrier gate if necessary, and the number on the yellow sticker at the crossing should be called – police remind.
