Traffic jam on the holiday trip - turning on the motorway is only permitted in one case

Created: 2022-07-26Updated: 2022-07-26 10:03 AM

By: Sebastian Oppenheimer

A traffic jam is always annoying - especially in the heat and on the way to vacation.

But even when the car is stationary, certain rules apply on the Autobahn.

Traveling by car on vacation is usually a real feat, especially with children.

A traffic jam can turn an already strenuous journey into a horror trip.

Of course, if you have the opportunity, you try to escape the car avalanche – and don’t drive on the main travel days, for example, or you start the journey at night.

However, even that doesn’t always help – and you end up stuck in a traffic jam.

But are you allowed to simply get off the Autobahn in Germany if nothing is going on for a long time?

Or maybe even drive backwards to the next exit?

Long traffic jams threaten on the motorway, especially during the holiday season.

(Iconic image) © Rolf Poss/Imago

Traffic jam on the holiday trip - turning on the motorway is only permitted in one case

Very important: as soon as traffic comes to a standstill, form a rescue lane.

Because the reason for the traffic jam is often an accident - and for the victims every second counts.

The emergency lane is always formed between the left lane and the remaining lanes.

Those who refuse can be expensive, the penalties have been drastically increased: a fine of at least 200 euros is due, plus two points in Flensburg and a one-month driving ban.

If you use the rescue lane to get ahead yourself, you have to pay at least 240 euros.

Traffic jam on the holiday trip – getting off is forbidden on the motorway

Especially after a long drive and in the heat, you can hardly stand it in the car in traffic jams.

You would be only too happy to stretch your legs a little when traffic comes to a complete standstill for a longer period of time.

But be careful: 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 ADAC, however, the police are often lenient in the event of longer disruptions.

Nevertheless, the experts strongly advise against long walks.

You should always stay close to the car - and in the event of an accident you should never obstruct the emergency services.

Traffic jam on the holiday trip - the hard shoulder is taboo

When traffic on the autobahn is slow, you can overtake on the right under certain conditions.

The hard shoulder of the motorway is reserved for breakdown vehicles.

If you use this to get to the next exit or the next parking lot faster, you risk a fine of 75 euros and a point in Flensburg.

In this case, too, there is an exception: namely when traffic signs explicitly allow the use of the hard shoulder.

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Traffic jams on vacation trips – only turn around on the Autobahn if the police ask you to

Reversing or turning around on the Autobahn is not only highly dangerous, it is also forbidden.

There is only one exception: namely when the police specifically ask drivers to do so, which can be the case, for example, during longer full closures.

Anyone who does not comply risks fines of up to 200 euros, two points in Flensburg and a month's driving ban.

A video of a traffic jam on a US freeway shows how it is definitely not possible.

Traffic jam on the holiday trip - the use of smartphones is prohibited for the driver when the engine is running

Incidentally, it is also forbidden for the driver to use a smartphone without a hands-free system in traffic jams – as long as the engine is running.

Anyone who does it anyway faces a fine of at least 100 euros, two points in Flensburg and a month's driving ban.

And a traffic jam is not a free pass for motorcyclists either: weaving between vehicles is prohibited.

You would only be allowed to overtake on the left - but due to the lack of space (especially if there is a rescue lane) this is hardly possible in practice.