{"id":176243,"date":"2025-11-22T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-22T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-skorostnoj-avtomagistralju-i-shosse\/"},"modified":"2026-10-28T16:28:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T13:28:51","slug":"what-is-the-difference-between-an-expressway-and-a-highway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/v-chjom-raznica-mezhdu-skorostnoj-avtomagistralju-i-shosse\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the difference between a freeway and a highway?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>A motorway differs from an expressway primarily by a higher speed limit (140 km\/h instead of 120 km\/h), the mandatory presence of two dividing strips and only single-level interchanges.<\/strong> The expressway may be single-lane (in which case the speed limit is 100 km\/h), and regulations permit single-level interchanges in exceptional cases. Both roads are open only to motor vehicles, and similar restrictions apply, such as U-turns and reversing.<\/p>\n<p> To sum it up<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Speed<\/strong> (cars, motorcycles, cars up to 3.5 t): motorway 140 km\/h, two-way expressway 120 km\/h, one-way motorway 100 km\/h.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Motorway<\/strong> always has at least two permanently separated carriageways; <strong>expressway<\/strong> may have one or two.<\/li>\n<li> There are only <strong>multi-level intersections<\/strong> (interchanges); on high-speed highways, single-level intersections are permitted in exceptional cases.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Pointers:<\/strong> Motorway \u2013 D-9, expressway \u2013 D-7. Some motorways are free for cars, expressways are toll roads.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2> Motorways and expressways \u2013 definitions from regulatory documents.<\/h2>\n<p> Both concepts are defined <strong>in the Law on Public Roads<\/strong> , and the Road Traffic Act refers to these definitions, adding that these are roads marked with appropriate signs and intended only for the movement of motor vehicles.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Motorway<\/strong> - is a road whose roadway is intended exclusively for motor vehicles and is equipped with at least <strong>two permanently separated one-way carriageways<\/strong> , intersects with other land and water roads <strong>only on a few levels<\/strong> and has travel service facilities (e.g. service areas, rest areas) intended exclusively for its users.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Expressway<\/strong> It is also intended only for motor vehicles and, as a rule, intersects with other roads at several levels, but the law <strong>in exceptional cases, single-lane intersections are permitted<\/strong> With public roads. There is also no requirement for two-lane roads\u2014single-lane expressways exist. In practice, most new Polish expressways are built as two-lane roads, with grade-separated interchanges, making them very similar to motorways for drivers.<\/p>\n<h2> How long can you drive on the highway and how long on the expressway?<\/h2>\n<p> Speed limits are specified in Article 20 of the Road Traffic Act. For <strong>passenger cars, motorcycles and trucks with a gross weight of up to 3.5 tons<\/strong> they are as follows:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>140 km\/h<\/strong> on the highway,<\/li>\n<li> <strong>120 km\/h<\/strong> on a two-way expressway.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>100 km\/h<\/strong> on a single-lane highway.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> For heavier vehicles and road trains (e.g., cars with trailers, buses, and trucks weighing over 3.5 tons), lower limits are established and specified separately in the regulations. The limit may also be lowered by a sign\u2014for example, during roadworks or at a traffic intersection\u2014in which case the value indicated on the sign applies.<\/p>\n<h2> General rules: who can enter and what is prohibited<\/h2>\n<p> In terms of traffic regulations, motorways and expressways are regulated very similarly. Since both are intended exclusively for motor vehicle traffic, <strong>pedestrians, cyclists, mopeds and<\/strong> Other vehicles are prohibited from using them. The same basic restrictions apply to drivers on both roads:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li> turning and reversing,<\/li>\n<li> entering and crossing the central dividing strip,<\/li>\n<li> Stopping and parking outside of designated areas (except in cases of breakdown or emergency).<\/li>\n<li> driving a vehicle that is not a motor vehicle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> On both types of roads, it is also necessary <strong>emergency corridors<\/strong> In case of traffic jams. It&#039;s worth familiarizing yourself with the current text of the Road Traffic Law for detailed information on the relevant regulations.<\/p>\n<h2> Tolls: Motorway vs. Expressway<\/h2>\n<p> Most motorways in Poland are free for <strong>passenger cars and motorcycles<\/strong> . Tolls are collected on concession sections operated by private companies\u2014on certain sections of the A1, A2, and A4 motorways. On expressways, tolls are free for passenger cars.<\/p>\n<p> The situation is different for <strong>vehicles weighing over 3.5 tons<\/strong> (and buses): they pay <strong>electronic collection<\/strong> for tolls on motorways, expressways, and some national roads. Since the range of toll sections and rates varies, please check the latest information on the GDDKiA website or through the electronic toll collection service before your trip.<\/p>\n<h2> Comparison table of expressways and motorways.<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th> Characteristic<\/th>\n<th> Highway<\/th>\n<th> Motorway<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<\/tbody>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Road markings<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> letter A (for example, A1, A2, A4)<\/td>\n<td> letter S (for example, S7, S8, S3)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Character at the beginning\/end<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> D-9 \/ D-10<\/td>\n<td> D-7 \/ D-8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Number of roads<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> at least two, constantly separated<\/td>\n<td> one or two<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Intersections<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> only multi-level<\/td>\n<td> multi-level, exclusively single-level<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Speed limit (for cars)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> 140 km\/h<\/td>\n<td> 120 km\/h (two-lane road) \/ 100 km\/h (single-lane road)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Fee for passenger cars<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> in concession areas<\/td>\n<td> flaw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>e-TOLL (for cargo weighing over 3.5 t)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> Yes<\/td>\n<td> Yes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td> <strong>Pedestrian, bicycle and moped traffic<\/strong><\/td>\n<td> prohibited<\/td>\n<td> prohibited<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2> How do you know which road you are driving on?<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> <strong>Sign at the entrance:<\/strong> D-9 denotes a motorway sign (a road with an overpass), D-7 is a car sign indicating an expressway. The end of the road is indicated by the same crossed-out symbols (D-10, D-8).<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Road number:<\/strong> Motorways are designated by the letter A, expressways by the letter S.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Number of lanes:<\/strong> If you are driving on a two-lane road, it is not a motorway, but an expressway with a single-lane road and a speed limit of 100 km\/h.<\/li>\n<li> <strong>Navigation:<\/strong> Most apps display the road number and current speed limit, but in case of discrepancies, road signs always apply.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2> Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)<\/h2>\n<p> <strong>How long can you drive on a motorway?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> A passenger car, motorcycle or passenger car weighing up to 3.5 t \u2013 at a speed of up to 120 km\/h on a two-way motorway and up to 100 km\/h on a one-way motorway, unless signs indicate a lower limit.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Is there a toll to use the expressway?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Passenger cars and motorcycles are allowed to travel on expressways free of charge. Vehicles over 3.5 tons and buses pay an electronic toll (e-TOLL).<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Is it possible to ride a bicycle or moped on a motorway?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> No. Both the motorway and the expressway are intended exclusively for motor vehicle traffic, so bicycles, mopeds, and pedestrians are not permitted on them.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>Can there be traffic lights and intersections on a motorway?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> The Law on Public Roads allows, as an exception, single-level intersections with public roads on expressways. On motorways, intersections are exclusively multi-level.<\/p>\n<p> <strong>What is the difference between signs D-7 and D-9?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> Sign D-9 marks the beginning of a motorway, and sign D-7 marks the beginning of an expressway. Their crossed-out equivalents (D-10 and D-8) mark the end of the corresponding road.<\/p>\n<h2> See also<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li> What is the difference between learning to drive in a big city and in a small town?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between enduro and motocross?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between third party liability insurance and air conditioner insurance?<\/li>\n<li> What is the difference between H7 and H1 bulbs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A motorway differs from an expressway primarily by its higher speed limit (140 km\/h instead of 120 km\/h) and the mandatory presence of two dividing lines.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":176244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,20],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-176243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vopros-otvet","category-fakty","tag-chem-otlichaetsya"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176243"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176243\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":176245,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176243\/revisions\/176245"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bukvaved.top\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}