If you want to be on the safe side and don't want to infect others, wear a face mask in corona times. But can you actually leave it on while driving?
Hamburg (dpa / tmn) - No matter whether bought or sewn: In the wake of the corona epidemic, more and more people are putting on mouthguards. If you want to carry it behind the wheel of the car, you have to make sure that you can still be clearly recognized by others.
To be more precise, it is about the fact that the decisive facial features can essentially still be identified, explains the lawyer Daniela Mielchen from Hamburg. This rule generally applies to headgear, costumes, face jewelry, glasses or even a face paint.
"Otherwise there is a fine of 60 euros," says Mielchen with reference to the Road Traffic Act (StVO). And if a road user cannot be identified afterwards on a speed camera photo, the road traffic authorities can order vehicle owners to keep a logbook.
Self-made masks are often too big
However, according to Mielchen, the respirators available on the market do not cover the entire face or at least not most of it. The regulation should then be fulfilled. "With self-made masks, however, caution is advised if the majority of the face is covered and identification is no longer possible," says the lawyer. She mentions a gas mask as a problematic extreme example.
The driver's view must not be disturbed
But it is not only the recognizability of the mask wearer that is important. A face mask must not interfere with the view of the driver. This can be important for people who wear glasses: the glasses are fogged up with mouth and nose protection. "If this is the case, the mask must be removed immediately, otherwise there is a risk of impaired vision," said the lawyer.
What applies to the drivers, however, does not matter to the other occupants in the car. You can wear a mask at any time on the go - regardless of its nature and size. And for motorcyclists, there is an exception to the rule because they have to wear a protective helmet while driving.
