As of: February 7, 2024, 5:03 a.m
By: Simon Stock
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Are you familiar with the 20-second rule that applies on motorways in Germany?
No?
But she should.
Because it saves a lot of stress.
Hamm - Millions of people travel on German motorways every day, but most of them have never heard of the 20-second rule.
It makes a lot of things easier – and also ensures more safety.
Not everyone understands the rule.
20-second rule on motorways: exception to the right-hand driving requirement
The “right-hand driving requirement” applies on German motorways.
This is what the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) want, which already sets this standard in paragraph 2.
“You should drive as far to the right as possible, not only when there is oncoming traffic, when being overtaken, on hilltops, in curves or when there is confusion,” says the powerful set of rules.
But there is an exception for highways with three or more lanes, as wa.de reports.
The exception, found in Paragraph 7 of the StVO, states that vehicles on three-lane motorways “deviating from the requirement to drive as far to the right as possible” are allowed to drive in the middle lane continuously, even if a vehicle only stops to the right “every now and then”. or drives”.
On highways with four or more lanes, this exception applies to the second lane from the right.
Sure: If, as is so often the case in everyday life, there are trucks after trucks in the right lane of the motorway, then no one has to stress and squeeze between two trucks just to clear the middle lane.
It is precisely such dangerous lane changes that are intended to be prevented by relaxing the right-hand driving requirement.
20-second rule on motorways: Not everyone has to leave the middle lane immediately
On the other hand, the exception does not entitle a driver to permanently occupy the middle lane just because a truck or other vehicle can be seen somewhere on the horizon to the right.
So the crux of the matter is: What does “every now and then” mean?
When do drivers have to move to the right lane of the motorway - and when can they stay in the middle without risking a fine?
The StVO is silent on this.
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This is where the 20-second rule comes into play, which is based on an almost 35-year-old ruling by the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court (NRW).
It says the following: If it takes significantly more than 20 seconds for a driver to overtake at a constant speed, he must leave the middle lane and move over to the right.
Conversely, if the next overtaking is less than 20 seconds away, he can stay in the middle.
20-second rule on motorways: More safety by staying in the middle lane
Anyone who gets frustrated and gets stuck behind someone who is supposedly in the middle lane and insists on complying with the right-hand driving requirement should remember the 20-second rule in the future.
Vehicles don't always have to make room immediately.
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