Upon stopping a vehicle for inspection, should the driver keep his or her hands on the steering wheel?

In the photo, a police officer is carrying out a roadside check: the stopped van is parked by a barrier, and a police car is next to it. After a vehicle is stopped for a check, the driver should keep their hands on the steering wheel. The answer is: yes.

The Regulation on road traffic checks states that after the officer gives a signal to stop, the driver stops the vehicle and keeps their hands on the steering wheel, and at the officer's instruction switches off the engine, switches on the hazard warning lights and makes it possible to identify the vehicle; the driver gets out of the vehicle only with the officer's permission. Hands on the steering wheel are a signal to the police officer that you are not reaching for anything dangerous and that you are in control of the car - this matters especially after dark, when the officer is walking up to an unknown car. After stopping you, the police officer states their rank, first name and surname and the reason for stopping you, and an officer not in uniform shows their ID card without being asked. Only then, at the officer's request, do you reach for your documents - in Poland you do not have to carry your driving licence, vehicle registration certificate or third-party liability insurance (OC) policy, because the police officer checks them in the system - you show the documents if you have them and the officer asks for them.

Legal basis: § 24 para. 1 and 2 and § 4 para. 1 of the Regulation on road traffic inspection; Art. 38 para. 1 of the Road Traffic Act (Prawo o ruchu drogowym)