Every driver must not only remember about a valid third party liability insurance, a current technical inspection and visible and properly installed license plates, but also about the appropriate equipment of his car. And it’s not about heated seats, tinted windows, a set of speakers or an automatic transmission. We are talking about items that must be on the backing of our car.

The first mandatory element of car equipment registered in Poland is definitely a fire extinguisher. A suitable car fire extinguisher – recommended by experts – has the ABC marking (allows extinguishing gases, liquids and solids) or BC (allows extinguishing only gases and dusts, and solids do not).

Importantly, the fire extinguisher for the car must have a minimum of 1 kg of extinguishing agent capacity, and preferably 2 kg. Of course, it must also be operational and have a valid homologation. The fire extinguisher should also always be at hand, so in no case do we hide it in the trunk, because it would be pointless.

In accordance with the provisions of Polish law, the car must also have a warning triangle – with an approval mark. It informs other road users about the car’s malfunction, for example as a result of a breakdown, collision, accident or other road accident.

In a built-up area, we put it just behind the vehicle (or on it), outside the built-up area – at a distance of 30 to 50 meters behind the vehicle, and on the expressway and highway – at a distance of 100 meters behind the vehicle.

If it comes to additional equipment, it is good that the car also has a first aid kit and a reflective vest. We must be aware that after dark and in low light without a vest we are virtually invisible. Therefore, we risk that another driver may not notice us and hit us.

In addition, it is worth having a lifebuoy or even a repair kit with a special liquid and compressor, as well as a basic set of tools, light bulbs and fuses. We are never really sure when something can be useful to us. So it is better to be prepared for such an eventuality.

Although the regulations do not oblige us to carry a first aid kit, they do oblige us toprovide the first assistance to injured people. Therefore, it is worth having at least basic accessories with you. We can choose from various first aid kit equipment, but the most necessary are: bandages, plasters with dressing, disinfectants, protective gloves, tourniquets, compresses, scissors, as well as a triangular sling and a thermal blanket. A mouthpiece for artificial respiration will also be useful, but in the event of resuscitation, we can simply compress the chest all the time – regularly.

Interestingly, in some countries (for example, in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria and Malta), both the first aid kit and the reflective vest are mandatory equipment of the car.

In 2022, the tariff of fines increased and penalties for drivers became more severe, reaching up to several thousand zlotys. And since the regulations require us to have certain items in the car, then for their lack of course we will receive a fine.

And so, both for the lack of a fire extinguisher and for the lack of a warning triangle, we will be punished with a fine of 20 to 500 zlotys. In addition, if we have such a triangle, but we do not issue it in the event of a road accident or breakdown (or we do it incorrectly), then we will have to pay a 150 pln penalty. It costs the same not to mark the towed vehicle with a triangle.

However, we will not get a mandate if our fire extinguisher has already expired. We must also be aware that the lack of a fire extinguisher may still result in failure to pass periodic technical inspections, and thus – the vehicle will not be allowed to drive on the road.

Returning to the subject of the vest, although it is not mandatory, every pedestrian moving after dark in an undeveloped area must have some reflective elements. And the driver, getting out of the car to fix it or take a break, becomes a pedestrian. A penalty of PLN 100 is provided for here.

As you can see, when moving on the roads, remember not only to maintain the proper technical condition of our vehicle, but also at least about the fire extinguisher and warning triangle. Otherwise, we have to take into account the costs.

Source: https://www.bhp-gabi.pl/a132,obowiazkowe-wyposazenie-bhp-samochodu.html

Projekt otrzymał dofinansowanie z Norwegii poprzez Fundusze Norweskie 2014-2021, w ramach programu „Dialog społeczny – godna praca”.