Participation of CK:PAP experts in the meeting of the Infrastructure Committee and the Territorial Government and State Administration Committee in the Senate of the Republic of Poland

On October 14, 2025, experts from the Connected and Autonomous Vehicles Competence Centre (CK:PAP) attended a meeting of the joint Infrastructure Committee and the Local Government and State Administration Committee of the Senate of the Republic of Poland.

One of the key agenda items was the Act Amending the Road Traffic Act and Other Acts (Senate Paper No. 482, Parliamentary Papers No. 1427, 1703, and 1703-A). This amendment provides for the creation of a legal framework facilitating the testing of automated vehicles on public roads in Poland.

Main legal assumptions:

research on automated or fully automated vehicles in road traffic on public roads will only be possible after obtaining a permit and meeting road safety requirements;
a permit will not be required if the automated vehicle being tested has an automation level lower than 3 (in accordance with Annex 3 to the Act);
a permit will be issued for a maximum of 3 years, with this period subject to modification if the conditions or scope of testing change;
a permit will be valid for a maximum of five voivodeships.

The draft assigns particular importance to the Motor Transport Institute (ITS), which has been designated as the National Research Coordinator (pol. Krajowy Koordynator Prac Badawczych, KKPB). The KKPB’s role will be crucial to ensuring a safe and consistent AV testing process in real-world conditions. Its primary responsibilities will include:

issuing administrative decisions – KKPB will be responsible for issuing permits to conduct research on automated vehicles on Polish roads, as well as for decisions refusing, amending, suspending, revoking, or declaring the permit expired.
maintaining a register of permits and reports – KKPB will maintain an electronic register of all issued permits, including the name of the organizer, permit’s validity period, area where research will be conducted, and the scope of research. Furthermore, KKPB will maintain a register of reports submitted by research organizers;
publication of information on permits and public disclosure of data – KKPB’s responsibilities include publishing information on its website about issued permits, including the periods, areas, and routes where testing will be conducted;
monitoring – KKPB will monitor whether entities responsible for research work comply with the terms of the permit.

After discussion, the draft amendment was approved. Six senators participated in the vote – four voted in favour, one voted against, and one abstained. According to the legislative framework in Poland, after the draft is passed by the Sejm and Senate, the Speaker of the Sejm submits it to the President.

Source: https://www.senat.gov.pl/prace/komisje-senackie/posiedzenia,220,1,komisja-infrastruktury.html