Increased road traffic in Poland. Research findings.
This year marks 100 years since Poland began measuring traffic volume on roads. In 1965, a unified measurement system was introduced worldwide according to the method recommended by the UN. Since then, the General Traffic Census (GPR) has been conducted every 5 years. Initially, it did not cover every road. All national roads in Poland were included in the study in 1985.
The results of the General Traffic Census conducted in 2025 on national roads managed by the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA) were recently published.
A Few Words About Polish Roads
National roads are the most important infrastructure in the country. They consist of a network of main roads with a total length of 19,368 km, of which 17,892 km are managed by GDDKiA. There are 96 such roads in the country. They have one- or two-digit designations. Part of the national roads are international roads that constitute key transport corridors. They often overlap with motorways (A1, A2, A4, etc.), of which there are currently 1,885 km, and expressways (S3, S7, S8, etc.). We have 3,321 km of expressways in Poland.
In the national system, international roads have a one-digit designation; in international designations, they have the letter "E" in their name.
Based on the measurements, parameters were determined, the most important of which is annual average daily traffic (AADT) along with the traffic structure by type, defining the division into 9 different vehicle categories. These include passenger cars, buses, light trucks, etc.
AADT is a parameter that defines the average number of vehicles passing through a given road cross-section during a day over the course of a year.
Research Findings
AADT on national roads was 14,880 vehicles/day.
AADT on international roads reached 30,248 vehicles/day, while on other national roads it was 8,626 vehicles/day.
The highest traffic load was recorded in the Silesian Voivodeship – over 25,000 vehicles/day. The lowest was in the Podlaskie Voivodeship – below 8,000 vehicles/day.
The average traffic volume on motorways is more than 2.5 times higher than the AADT for the entire national road network. On expressways, it is almost 2 times higher.
Compared to GPR 2020/21, AADT increased by 10%.
Traffic growth varied depending on road function. On international roads, it was 19%, while on other national roads, a decrease of 1% was recorded.
The highest growth rate in traffic compared to the previous measurement was recorded on expressways (index 1.44) and motorways (1.26), with a simultaneous decrease in traffic volume on roads of technical class GP (0.82) and G (0.93).
Where Is Traffic the Highest?
The road network with a length of 4,518 km carried approximately 60.0% of transport work, of which 4,010 km consisted of motorways and expressways. The largest share in transport work was held by:
A4 – 10.7%
A1 – 7.9%,
S8 – 7.2%
S7 – 7.1%
and A2 – 6.7%,
which together accounted for almost 40.0% of transport work on the national road network.
Meanwhile, all sections of A and S roads together accounted for 61% of all transport work on the national road network.
Average night traffic (ANT) on the national road network was 1,676 vehicles/8h, which represents 11.3% of AADT.
Average daily traffic in the summer period (ADTS) was 17,042 vehicles/day and was higher than the annual average (114.5% AADT) and almost 15% higher compared to the previous GPR. The highest summer traffic values were recorded on international roads. On other national roads, its level was lower, indicating the greater importance of holiday traffic on roads with higher technical parameters.
The majority of the national road network is characterized by economic traffic (92.4% of network length). Sections of a tourist-recreational nature accounted for 7.6% of network length. The share of tourist-recreational roads is higher on international roads (14.4%) than on other national roads (4.9%).
Research Findings, or Why This Matters
GPR results are crucial information for us in the investment process. It is one of the components in the decision to build a new structure or dismantle an existing one. We always prioritize the best visibility of content on the board and the traffic volume along the route.
We also base our audience research for ads on Motorway billboards on measurement results.
The full report can be accessed here: https://www.gov.pl/web/gddkia/generalny-pomiar-ruchu-2025
FAQ: What You Should Know About Motorway 12x4 m
How many Motorway billboards are in the entire network?
As of April 2026, our network includes 370 motorway 12x4 m sites. This figure changes due to alterations in the road network, traffic volume, or resolutions introduced by municipalities.
What do the A and B designations mean in Jet Line board descriptions?
This designation makes it easier to select a specific surface on each board and link it to the direction of travel.
When you pass our board along the route and it's on your right side – you see surface A.
Who is the target audience for OOH billboard ads?
Ads on billboards along routes are targeted at drivers and passengers of cars traveling on roads in Poland.
Ads on billboards in cities, at exits or entrances, are also targeted at pedestrian residents and city visitors.