Poland uses standard international traffic signs. Major routes have the prefix ‘E' and motorways ‘A'. Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways, 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways, 90kph (56mph) on open roads, and 20-50kph (12-31mph) in built-up areas (60kph/37mph from 1100 to 0500). Traffic drives on the right. Seat belts must be worn. Vehicles should be equipped with a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher and warning triangle. Headlights must be on at all times from 1 October to 1 March. The legal maximum alcohol to blood ratio for driving is 0.02%.

The minimum driving age in Poland is 17. International Driving Permits and European and US national driving licences are accepted for the first six months in Poland. Drivers should carry their vehicle registration and third party insurance documents. Short-term Green Card insurance is only required for cars originating from outside of the EU and Switzerland.

Information about road travel can be obtained from the Polish Motoring Association (PZM) (tel: (022) 849 9361; website: www.pzmtravel.com.pl).

Emergency breakdown service: PZM (tel: 9637).

Routes to the city: The main route to the city is the east-west E30, which connects Warsaw with Łódź, Poznań and Berlin to the west and the Belarus border to the east. The north-south E77 links Gdansk with Cracow, via Warsaw. The E67 is the route from the southwestern city of Wroclaw.

Approximate driving times to Warsaw: From Berlin is 5 hours; from Prague is 5 hours, and from Cracow is 3 hours 40 minutes.

Coach services: Dozens of licensed carriers, including Polski Express (tel: (022) 854 0285; website: www.polskiexpress.pl) and the state-owned PKS (tel: 0300 300 130; website: www.pks.warszawa.pl) offer services to and from over 200 European and Polish destinations. Warszawa Zachodnia (tel: (022) 822 4811) is the central bus station, located at Aleje Jerozolimskie 144. Eurolines (tel: (022) 676 9187; website: www.eurolinespolska.pl) also provides international services to and from Poland.