Poles driving to southern Europe for their summer holidays face new challenges this year, including rising fuel prices and a concentration of roadworks in the Czech Republic and Austria that create massive traffic jams. Before setting off, drivers should remember to purchase vignettes online and check speed limits to avoid hefty fines.
In the coming weekend, thousands of Poles will head south to Croatia, Italy, and other popular destinations, many choosing to travel by car. However, the journey requires careful planning, from buying electronic vignettes to choosing the right fuel stations along the route.
Vignettes and roadworks: The essentials
Drivers must purchase vignettes for motorways in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, and Slovenia. It is best to buy them through official government transport websites to save money. In the Czech Republic, there are four types of e-vignettes for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. Austria uses the ASFiNAG system, with vignettes valid on around 2,200 km of expressways and motorways. Slovenia offers vignettes for transit to Croatia, with prices varying by validity period.
Roadworks are a major issue, particularly on the D1 motorway between Ostrava and Brno near Olomouc, and at the large Brno junction towards Bratislava and Vienna. Police patrols and temporary speed cameras are in place, with zero tolerance for speeding. On the A9 motorway from Vienna to Graz, and further via Klagenfurt and Villach to Tarvisio in Italy, delays can extend journey times by up to two hours.
Fuel prices and saving tips
Fuel costs are a growing part of holiday budgets. Prices vary significantly across Europe. The cheapest option is to fill up at the last two stations before the Polish-Czech border at Gorzyczki, where prices are much lower than at motorway stations. In the Czech Republic, before the Austrian border, diesel costs around 36 CZK and petrol 41.80 CZK per litre (about €1.45-1.50). In Austria, motorway stations charge over €2.00 for petrol and €2.10 for diesel, but off-motorway stations like Turmoel (owned by Orlen) offer petrol at €1.70-1.75 and diesel at €1.80-1.85.
On the way back, drivers should be aware that on Saturdays before 15:00, trucks must leave Austrian motorways and park until Sunday 22:00. This causes long queues at border crossings, especially between Austria and the Czech Republic, where over a thousand trucks and returning holidaymakers can create delays of up to two hours. Planning ahead and choosing the right time to travel can make a significant difference.
Źródło: wnp.pl, Fot. Shutterstock
