Leisurely Journey

Before embarking on a summer trip, it is worthwhile to carefully plan your trip in advance and familiarize yourself with the current rules of the countries visited and the tolls. In the next part of our guide, rally driver Krzysztof Holowczyc is the expert.

It is worth making a travel plan before going on vacation, especially if we are going to very hot regions. If we do not have air conditioning in the car, then it is better to try to drive as much of the route as possible in the morning, when the heat is not so annoying. It is recommended to plan several stops, at least one of which should last one or even two hours. Then you should go out, take a walk and get some fresh air.

A little gymnastics will also do us good. All this is for the effective regeneration of your body, because a long journey is not only tiring, but also interferes with concentration, and this affects our safety. I know this very well, if only because of my sports experience. I have seen time and time again how difficult it is to stay focused while driving for many hours, for example, during the Dakar Rally.

Be mindful of drinks

Appropriate, light clothing and comfortable shoes also affect our condition and well-being. It is also important to have the right amount of fluids that we need to drink regularly while traveling. Everyone has their own preferences - it can be some drinks or juices, but usually mineral water is enough. It is important that it is consumed regularly, because at high temperatures it is easy to dehydrate the body.

In cars without air conditioning, we are most often doomed to opening windows, which, unfortunately, can adversely affect our health. Draft in the cabin in hot weather brings relief, but can cause a cold or headache.

Be careful with air conditioning

Also, do not overdo it with the conditioner. For the sake of my health and the health of passengers, I try to cool the air in the cabin a little. If it's 30 degrees outside, for example, I set the air conditioner to 24-25 degrees so that there isn't too much of a difference. Then the car is much more pleasant, and leaving it we are not subjected to heat stroke. It is enough to remember this, and we will certainly no longer complain that we still have a runny nose or regularly catch a cold because of the air conditioner.

Don't stress

Holidays are a great moment when we start traveling to interesting places. So let's put aside the haste, the nerves, everything that often accompanies us every day. Let's develop a travel plan to have a lot of free time, take your time and save a few minutes, even for coffee. Indeed, it is not worth rushing and pushing between other cars, because the profit from such a ride is small, and the risk, especially when we are traveling with a family, is very high. So, successfully reach your destination and enjoy your vacation!

Planning a vacation trip, if we are going there by car, it is worth starting by checking the fuel prices and the cost of tolls on motorways in the countries of interest to us. You also need to know the maximum speed at which you can drive on the roads of the countries you are about to travel, where driving without headlights is punishable by a fine and where breaking the rules can be especially severe.

– Several countries in Europe, including Poland, still have free roads. In most of them, you have to pay for travel even through part of the territory. When driving, for example, through the Czech Republic to the south of Europe, you need to be prepared to buy a vignette. Toll roads are marked, and it is very difficult and long to go around them.

You can drive on free roads in Slovakia, but why, since there is a beautiful and inexpensive highway built all over the country, for which you pay by buying a vignette. In Hungary, there are different vignettes for different motorways - there are four of them. You must remember this! The vignette is also valid in Austria. However, we can use free and at the same time excellent roads in Germany and Denmark (some bridges here are tolled).

-In other countries, you have to pay for the motorway section traveled. Fees are collected at the gate, so it is better to have cash with you, although it should be possible to pay with payment cards everywhere. When approaching the gates, make sure they accept cash or card payments. Some open the barrier automatically only to the owners of special electronic "remote controls". If we get there, it will be very difficult for us to retreat, and the police may not understand us.

- You can't count on your understanding if we go over the speed limit. Police officers are generally polite but ruthless. In some countries, officers are not required to know any foreign language. On the other hand, the Austrian police are known for their strict enforcement of the rules and, in addition, have terminals for collecting fines from credit cards. If we do not have cash or a card, we may even end up in detention until the ticket is paid for by someone from the outside. Temporary arrest of a car in case of gross offenses is possible, for example, in Italy. It's also pretty easy to lose your driver's license there. Germans, Spaniards and Slovaks can also use this right.

– In all countries, you must expect to pay the fine on the spot. Breaking the rules abroad can ruin the average Pole's budget. The amount of fines depends on the offense and can vary from about PLN 100 to PLN 6000. For more serious offenses, court fines of up to several thousand zł are also possible.

– A few years ago, many Poles, going west, took a can of fuel with them in order to at least slightly reduce the cost of travel. Now this is usually unprofitable. Fuel prices in most European countries are similar to prices in Poland. However, it is worth checking what tariffs apply in border countries. Perhaps it is better not to refuel under the traffic jam just before the border, but to do it behind the barrier.

Remember! Control your head

A vacation trip can be spoiled at the beginning if we get stuck in a kilometer-long traffic jam caused by road repairs. To avoid this situation, it is worth planning the route in advance, taking into account possible traffic problems.

Most often, the problem arises when you have to stand in traffic jams or make detours to extend travel time. In such situations, the understanding of the need for repairs falls sharply, and unflattering epithets are poured on the heads of road workers, and often other drivers. Growing nervousness is making many drivers more willing to step on the gas to catch up. This, in turn, leads to dangerous situations, because, as you know, speeding is one of the main causes of serious accidents.

Information about road repairs, reconstruction of bridges and viaducts, as well as recommended detours can be found on the website of the General Directorate of National Roads and Motorways (www.gddkia.gov.pl).

Road vignettes in Europe

Austria: 10 days 7,9 euros, two months 22,9 euros.

Czech Republic: 7 days 250 CZK, 350 CZK per month

Slovakia: 7 days €4,9, monthly €9,9

Slovenia: 7-day trip 15 €, monthly 30 €

Switzerland: 14 months at CHF 40

Hungary: 4 days €5,1, 10 days €11,1, monthly €18,3.

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Prepare your car for the trip

With luggage and in a car seat