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Author Sebastian Oppenheimer
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People drive particularly fast on the autobahn – that’s why you should know all the applicable rules as a driver in your sleep.
For most tourists from abroad, the German autobahns are quite a curiosity - after all, you can drive as fast as you want here.
This is hardly possible in any other country.
However, in Germany there are now speed limits on numerous sections (their validity does not end at the next slip road).
In addition, the so-called recommended speed of 130 km/h also applies on the motorway, which can play a major role in accidents.
If a driver drives significantly faster than the
recommended speed,
they may be held partly to blame in the event of a crash.
Safe driving on the Autobahn - which rules are important: emergency lane
Keyword accident: If there is a traffic jam on the freeway, it is often caused by a crash.
In this case, drivers on the motorway must form a
rescue lane
for the emergency vehicles – even when traffic is coming to a standstill.
The principle is simple: all vehicles swerve to the right – only those in the left lane swerve to the left.
The so-called "right-hand rule" offers assistance in forming a rescue lane.
Driving safely on the Autobahn – which rules are important: Driving on the right
In Germany, driving on the
right applies
- even on the freeway.
Basically, drivers have to use the right lane, the left lane is intended for overtaking.
You are only allowed to overtake on the right in two exceptional cases.
Firstly, when traffic is so heavy that queues of vehicles have formed in the lanes in one direction.
The prerequisite: the traffic is so dense on all lanes that you drive side by side.
Second: Vehicles that are standing in the left-hand lane or are traveling at less than 60 km/h may also be overtaken on the right.
However, only at a slightly higher speed and with the greatest caution.
When traffic is stationary, you may overtake in the right-hand lane at a maximum speed of 20 km/h.
If the traffic in the left lane is moving slowly,
+
Some special rules apply on the Autobahn.
(icon picture)
© Jochen Tack/Imago
Safe driving on the Autobahn – which rules are important: Autobahn entrance
There are also a few things to consider when driving onto the Autobahn.
It is no coincidence that the
acceleration lane
is called this: Drivers should pick up speed here and then use the turn signal to merge into a sufficiently large gap.
Important: According to ADAC, there is no zipper procedure.
Traffic on the continuous lane always has the right of way on the Autobahn.
This means that if there is not a large enough gap to cut in, you have to stop at the end of the acceleration lane and wait there for a suitable opportunity.
Safe driving on the Autobahn – which rules are important: Hard shoulders
Hard shoulders or
hard shoulders
on the Autobahn are generally taboo for drivers.
It is primarily there to be able to safely park vehicles that have broken down or have been involved in an accident.
Otherwise, the shoulder may not be driven on - unless it is temporarily approved.
This can be done with a traffic sign or a digital gantry.
Catalog of fines: what fines traffic offenders have to reckon with
The new catalog of fines came into force on November 9, 2021.
If you drive 16 to 20 kilometers per hour too fast in town and are flashed, you now pay 70 euros instead of 35 as before.
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
If you drive 16 to 20 km/h too fast outside of built-up areas and are caught, you now pay 60 euros instead of the previous 30 euros. The same applies here: the faster, the more expensive.
In many cases - i.e. the levels of speeding - the fines are doubled.
© Uwe Anspach/dpa
The illegal use of sidewalks, cycle paths and hard shoulders by vehicles is also becoming more expensive.
Violations are punished with a fine of up to 100 euros instead of up to 25 euros.
(Iconic image) © Arne Dedert/dpa
Some violations would also be more expensive for cyclists, as the ADFC explained with a view to the new catalog of fines.
This applies when cyclists ride illegally on a sidewalk.
© Paul Zinken/dpa
General stopping and parking violations will be punished with a fine of up to 55 euros instead of the previous 15 euros.
(Archive image/symbolic image) General stopping and parking violations are punished with a warning fine of up to 55 euros instead of up to 15 euros as before.
(Archive image/symbolic image) © Swen Pförtner/dpa
Anyone who parks illegally in a disabled parking space must expect a fine of 55 euros instead of the previous 35 euros.
© Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/dpa
Anyone who comes up with the idea of parking an officially marked fire brigade access road or obstructing an emergency vehicle must expect a fine of 100 euros.
Anyone who comes up with the idea of parking an officially marked fire brigade access road or obstructing an emergency vehicle must expect a fine of 100 euros.
(Archive image/symbolic image) © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Anyone who does not form an emergency lane must expect a fine of between 200 and 320 euros and a month's driving ban. Anyone who does not form an emergency lane or even uses it themselves to make faster progress by car must expect a fine of between 200 and 320 euros and a month's driving ban .
© Patrick Seeger/dpa
Police control action on drugs and alcoholTruck drivers who violate the newly introduced obligation to only drive the truck at walking speed when turning right in built-up areas will be asked to pay 70 euros.
(Archive image/symbolic image) © Julian Stratenschulte/dpa
The fine for causing unnecessary noise and avoidable exhaust nuisance as well as annoying useless driving back and forth will be raised from up to 20 euros to up to 100 euros. Attention car posers: The fine for causing unnecessary noise and avoidable exhaust nuisance as well as the annoying useless driving back and forth will be raised from up to 20 euros to up to 100 euros.
© Patrick Pleul/dpa
You can find even more exciting car topics in the free newsletter from our partner 24auto.de.
Safe driving on the Autobahn – which rules are important: traffic jams
There are
also rules when there is a
traffic jam on the motorway: you are not allowed to get out of the car, even when it is completely stationary.
Because according to the Road Traffic Act (StVO §18 Para. 9), pedestrians are not allowed to enter the motorway - at most to secure an accident site.
According to the ADAC, however, the police are often lenient in the event of longer disruptions.
Turning on the freeway is also forbidden – even in a traffic jam.
There is only one exception to this rule: namely when the police specifically ask you to turn around - for example in the event of a complete closure.
List of rubrics: © Jochen Tack/Imago
