As of: February 8, 2024, 4:30 p.m
By: Simon Mones
Comments
Press
Split
NATO is mobilizing 90,000 soldiers for the Steadfast Defender military exercise.
German drivers have to prepare for increased military convoys.
Special rules apply to these.
Almost two years have passed since the war began in Ukraine.
The consequences were also noticeable in Germany.
Fuel prices skyrocketed and had to be reduced with the help of the fuel discount.
And customers also waited longer for new cars because of the Russian attack.
A peaceful solution to the conflict is still not in sight and NATO remains on alert.
In order to be prepared for an emergency, the alliance has been holding “Steadfast Defender”, the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War, since January 22nd.
The maneuver will last until May 31st.
NATO is practicing for emergencies - the Bundeswehr is taking part with 12,000 soldiers
NATO is mobilizing around 90,000 soldiers for this purpose.
The Bundeswehr is also taking part in Quadriga 2024 with 12,000 men and just over 1,200 vehicles.
The troops will be deployed to Norway, Poland, Lithuania and Romania for the exercise.
If drivers encounter a military convoy on the road, they must follow a few rules.
© Bernd Wüstneck/dpa
“Since Germany will once again serve as a hub for troop movements through Europe, citizens will see a lot of military on the streets in the coming months,” the Bundeswehr explains on its homepage.
But how do you recognize a military convoy and how do you behave correctly?
Military vehicles on German roads: flags indicate columns
Identifying a military convoy is straightforward.
A blue flag on the driver's side of all vehicles in the column is a clear indication.
Only the last vehicle in the line shows a green flag.
The ADAC points out that a yellow flashing light or a warning sign may also be attached.
In addition, other flags can be used that provide additional important information:
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flag |
Meaning |
|---|---|
Black and white divided diagonally |
Association leader who does not drive firmly in the column |
Yellow |
Defective/damaged vehicle |
Red |
Vehicle that poses increased danger. (For example, because it has loaded a large amount of fuel) |
It is important to know: A convoy is actually viewed as a single vehicle.
If the first vehicle crosses the green light, the others are allowed to follow, even if the light has turned red.
This exception also applies at intersections where the right-before-left rule and other rules determined by traffic signs apply.
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Motorists are generally allowed to overtake a military convoy, but this should be done in one pass to avoid cutting into the column.
According to
the ADAC,
exactly this kind of cutting in is not permitted.
If you still have to cut into the convoy, it is advisable to leave it as quickly as possible.
Therefore, overtaking maneuvers are mainly possible on multi-lane roads or highways.
When entering the highway, drivers must also let the military convoy pass first.
The editor wrote this article and then used an AI language model for optimization at his own discretion. All information has been carefully checked. Find out more about our AI principles here.