According to Polish regulations, the vehicle registered in the country must be equipped with a warning triangle and a fire extinguisher. Our law does not agree with the regulations of the vast majority of the European Union. So what should we do when we go abroad? It turns out that in some cases we do not have to buy missing items at all. Sometimes it is worthwhile though.
Although Poland is a member of the European Union, not all road regulations in force in our country are reflected in other Member States. This includes, among other things, the list of obligatory car equipment. Each country has its own list of accessories that must be on board the vehicle registered in it. How does it look in detail? Current data on mandatory vehicle equipment is published by the European Commission.
Do we, however, need to buy equipment that other countries require when traveling abroad? After all, it is hard to suspect that the Germans or Czechs who come to Poland buy fire extinguishers for this circumstance. The Vienna Convention on Traffic is exempt from the obligation to purchase equipment in other countries. The 1968 International Law Group was adopted by all EU member states. In one of the points says that when leaving the car abroad, we must have only what we are obliged to domestic law.
In practice it is not always easy to explain your reason to a policeman wear safety vest in a foreign country, and attempts to award a mandate for a lack of local lawful equipment are still occurring. What to do in this case? If we accept a mandate, the penalty will have to be paid on site or after visiting an ATM. If we do not accept the mandate, legal assistance may be required in the state. It is always a good idea to inform the Polish consulate in the country where you are staying. It is best to call there right away at check-in. This can cool the police officer.
What about car rental? It is almost certain that such a vehicle has all that is required in the country of its registration. For peace, however, you can check it by picking up the car. If we go to the country where we rented the car, the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic will again protect us from the mandate.
Regardless of European conventions, before leaving on a long journey with your own car, it is worth getting at least the elements that will provide us with safety. – We recommend equipping the car with at least elements that repeat in the legislation of most European countries – says Cesar of the Polish Motor Show. – It’s about a first aid kit and a reflective vest. It is true that according to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic we are not obliged to do so, but in practice it happens that the police abroad are trying to give such a mandate for failure to do so. It’s better to save yourself trouble. In practice, however, it should be punished with mandates for the absence of spare bulbs or fuses. Such events took place years ago in Slovakia, for example, and this was an abuse of national anachronism.
– When purchasing a first aid kit, it is worth paying attention to its equipment. – It is best to buy a set that meets the requirements of the country we go to. As for the vest or reflective vest, it is true that according to the Vienna Convention we do not have to have them in the car, but in many countries the law states that when leaving a car, for example in the event of a puncture, we must wear a vest. This convention is no longer included – our correspondent says.