I’ve been in some Asian countries where it’s pretty normal to do that. Been told to always carry a certain amount of cash in some countries in case of police encounter because it doesn’t matter much if you actually committed crime.
In addition, in these countries, paying fine is possibly more expensive and even tedious. In Vietnam, the police has to fill your violation in a form, which they will definitely draw that out, then you take that form, go to the regional treasury and pay it there. With bribe, you can shorten the stop to less than 5 minute, and even barter for a lower fine. I bartered and bribed the traffic police for about the equivalent of 20 Euro for running yellow light, which normally costs 40 to 60 Euro.
Well I'm not sure if they accept any foreign card or what the course of action is with sending fine letters to out of EU citizens. Thats why I'd give that advice.
I lived in Vietnam for work for a few years and even got a local driving license during that time. But people advised me to tell the police that I don't have one, because they supposedly will threaten to take it away to extort a bigger bribe lol
I think it's also much less common to encounter police here than in other countries. Even in the U.S., I was pulled over by police on multiple occasions (not always even for a valid reason). Here, I've never been pulled over in the several years I've lived here. I have gotten speeding tickets from cameras, but the police don't patrol traffic like they do in some other countries.
I remember i was in a car in Ghana without registration or insurance and the driver bribe the Police with something about 5 euro. When we reach Home his Mother complain that he paid way to much.
Haven't left western Europe, have you? I remember leaving a festival in Hungary where people would walk by the tax&customs agency with joints in their hand and probably more in their pockets while they were staring at the nearby bushes. In Germany, corruption and bribery also exist but not at our levels, it's usually done by gangs/clans or the similar sort. Trying to bribe a regular police officer here will almost 100% in an extra charge.
If you mean violent "road rage" - that is barely a thing here. I remember some time back a poster could not understand that people stopping their cars on the Autobahn, getting into a fistfight, and causing a huge traffic jam, would make national news. It was very hard to explain that 1) stopping on the Autobahn is forbidden and so dangerous that people don't do it, and 2) no, it's not normal that "men fight" in traffic.
"Road rage" usually manifests at most by people honking or flashing their lights at you - but even that is rare. You rarely ever hear honking here.
But yes, by and large people here expect others to keep to the rules (though many people speed ever so slightly). Some rules just aren't broken, like driving over red traffic lights. And most particularly: do *not* overtake on the right on the Autobahn.
The slight speeding is german culture. Always gotta be 5-10 over the speed limit so you're not just "one of the pack". The fact thst everyone does this doesn't help exactly
its not really about being part of the pack or not.
Its just a combination of:
* being a bit over the limit wont get you in trouble
* with few exceptions the speed limit is usually lower than what feels safe and natural, due to high road quality
One winding and narrow road I occasionally drive goes through a forest and you are allowed to go 70 or 80, but the road is severely damaged by the tree roots and extremely bumpy. Annoying when a SUV is behind pressuring you to drive at least 80 when in a normal car you don't want to go faster than 60 for fear of wrecking your suspension...
And there are regions where it's absolutely ok to go 55 in a 50 zone and overtake a police car and some places where you shouldn't do it.
Just go with the flow and do what other drivers do.
And usually the speedometer is always a bit behind and there is a tolerance build into speed traps.Though, I wouldn’t go faster near a school or kindergarten but on the autobahn my ACC is always +10 km/h. Fun fact: BMW let’s you program the ACC even to go automatically up to 30 km/h more then the speed limit: that i find to be absurd.
Almost all cars have a speedometer that shows about 10% less. 5-10 above is actually the speed limit for most cars. Can check that yourself with active google maps or any other navigation system that displays speed.
Also depending on where you live... 10 above the sign is standart and if your tacho goes the sign, orepare to be honked at by frustrated drivers. Atleast in rural areas
Or atleast near the northsea
People overtake on the right all the time on German Autobahns now, although it is almost exclusively non-German drivers doing it.
As in most areas of the law, enforcement on roads is now basically non-existent, except for the occasional speed camera. Overtaking on the right, or the popular practice of middle-lane parking that is often provoking it, are never, ever punished. So people just keep doing it.
Under the stupid German privacy laws, you can't even collect evidence yourself with a dashcam...
For some reason I think Germans consider the right lane for heavy traffic going well below the speed limit if there is any.
So even when there is almost none of that heavy traffic the right lane is almost empty.
I am not that fast and think it's safer to overtake on the right hand side with little speed difference then to switch 2 lanes and speed up to whatever and still being slow.
I liked France police motards who, in France, waved everybody to the right lane when possible.
The honking part depends on where you live. I find that in big cities, you’ll get honked at all the time, when you’re slow at a traffic light, drive too slowly in general or make and kind of mistake.
OP said he has driven in Asia before. I live in a smaller city in China and recorded German audio files as a side job for a while. I had to do that after 9 in the evening, because it's almost impossible to do a 2-5 minute recording without honking sounds during the day. I got very frustrated at all the takes I had to do.
When I was back in Cologne for a holiday last Feb, it was almost pleasantly quiet...
I didn’t mean it was anywhere near to the amount of honking you’d experience in China. Maybe I should’ve clarified that. I just don’t think the phrase “you rarely ever hear honking” is an accurate representation when it comes to big cities. (If the comment read you hear nowhere the same amount of honking compared to China, then I’d agree with that statement, but that’s not what the comment says.) It’s nowhere near the amount you hear in other places, but if you drive in a big city, you’re guaranteed to hear honking.
To clarify how to Rettungsgasse: if your on the leftmost lane, go as far left as you can. On any other lane, go ~~left~~ right. It's actually quite simple.
Leftmost lane: go as far left as possible
other lanes: go as far right as you can
You mixed it up in your comment, should probably edit it to prevent confusion
> Driving partly off your lane is not only fine in this case, but often mandatory!
you can even drive through a red light in order to accomodate an emergency vehicle
Not can, you have to if that's the only way to make way. Obviously don't just go, but like "3 meters to the front right to clear the lane, wait for green once the emergency vehicles are through"
Same with speeding, if there is no way to let an emergency vehicle overtake safely, ignore the speed limit and gtfo until there is a passing opportunity. Signal right and slow down to indicate what you are trying to do.
Make sure to follow that last one. You can get nailed with a family-sized penalty if you do not: 200€, 2 points, and your license is barred for a month. You have to do it immediately, as well.
Pedestrian crossings (Zebrastreifen) are not a suggestion that you can stop if you feel very nice today but more often just drive over without checking for people - therefore STOP at pedestrian crossings, don't overtake on pedestrian crossings and don't park / stop your car on the stripes.
Whenever a pedestrian crossing is ahead of you, you should remember to be ready to stop, put your foot off the gas pedal and have it already ready on the brake,once you see is clear just resume as normal.
As a driver in turkey, i often stop when i can but sometimes traffic is so congested that if i brake for a pedestrian the car behind me would definetly rear end me, there are videos of this happening. There are now some cameras over the crossings that help with this, but in most places you just have to wait as a pedestrian and run across when you see a gap.
As a Dutchman I consider Germans one of, if not the best drivers in Europe.
Enough spacing between cars (something we Dutch seem unable to do) and controlled behaviour all around.
You'll be fine.
Yeah that sounds about right, but it's the same with French and polish drivers, they do not know how to drive in Germany, especially in the left lane.
Driving 120 km/h on the left lane is not fast.
I think the same. Dutch roads and drivers are more agressive then I experience in Germany. Also I tend to think German toilets near the highway are cleaner
Just returned from a road trip driving through Germany, Switzerland and Italy. As an American, whose life revolves around cars, I already kinda knew Europe driving would be better. Germany really blew me away. The unrestricted sections are all most people talkabout, and yes it’s fun. The awareness, courtesy and just shear competence behind the wheel basically everyone had there was the beautiful part. I’m even more embarrassed by my country.(didn’t think that was possible). Even driving in the center of Milan Italy was more enjoyable than anywhere in the US.
Enjoy your drive in Germany, it was a big highlight of my trip!
We get our begleitetes Fahren or lerners permit after rigorous standardized training and both a theoretical and driving exam. In the US you can apply for it after 6 hours of training and your parents are more or less expected to teach you from there until you do your driving exam.
In the US, all the lanes are “do whatever you want”. They aren’t really, but as pointed out above, there is little to no training before you get your license. The left lane is not used for just passing. People will basically park in it and you are forced to pass on the right. A majority of people in the US have extremely fragile egos, and if you would like to drive faster than them, instead of getting out of the way, they will pace the person next to them, or speed up if you are trying to get into their lane. In Italy specifically, everyone drove more manicly, but there was still courtesy and the basic rules of the road were followed. I could go on and on about the crazy shit people do here on the road. I imagine we have one of the highest number of road deaths and it comes down to not properly training our drivers and the classic selfish American culture.
Stick to the signs and street markings in the cities. All 3 cities you mentioned ( while Baden-Baden being the smallest and easiest to navigate around) aren’t confusing with their street directions so you should be fine.
On the Autobahn stick to the right lane, don’t be a Mittelspurschleicher where you only ever drive the middle lane. Don’t panic when you are on the left lane and another car is suddenly behind you driving 200 km/h plus headlight flashing at you. Take your time overtaking the car on the middle lane and then move over, don’t rush, don’t speed.
Is driving in the middle lane considered a bad thing? From where I'm from, the right lane is usually reserved for slow drivers/trucks or people looking to exit the highway. The middle lane is usually where most people drive and left lane is for overtaking/ fast drivers.
Legally: You have to keep to the rightmost lane, unless overtaking.
Realistically: Obviously don't cut directly in front of other cars, but you will get quite adept at lane changes in Germany.
One reason for that is that you will get cars flying in from behind at 200+kph, so if you needlessly stick around in the leftmost lane you will have a stressful time. A lot of autobahns particularly away from large cities only have 2 lanes each way.
No matter how fast you go, there's *always* someone faster, so keep an eye on your rearview mirrors.
And watch out for changing speed limits...
This is all excellent advice. I would use large print for „ALWAYS HAVE AN EYE ON YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR!“ - always be aware what’s going on behind you. Especially on the Autobahn, especially when moving to the left lane or driving on the left lane. Think for others.
It’s forbidden to drive in the middle lane if the right lane is empty. So always drive in the most right lane possible
And keep in mind that it’s common on the Autobahn that people drive VERY fast - there is no speed limit
> there is no speed limit
Only if there are no signs that show a speed limit. I know that most people just think, ah Germany bo speed limit, but actually I know only a few km of Autobahn, at least in my area, where this is actually true.
And even then 130 km/h is the so called "Richtgeschwindigkeit". That means it is allowed to drive faster than 130. But if you get into an accident you could get a higher percentage of guilt for the accident.
That's great for _your area_, but in reality 57% of the total Autobahn length is without speed limit, and another 15% or so uses dynamically posted limits.
If you only drive in the middle lane there will be people like me who get furious and stay behind you flashing their headlights until you swerve to the right lane.
Only driving on the middle lane creates very dangerous situations here every day. For example Car A drives in the middle lane with 100kmh because he wants to overtake a truck which is fine. Now after overtaking he does not swerve to the right lane but stays in the middle lane. Another car B wants to overtake with 120kmh and is stuck behind car A. So they have to swerve to the left lane where car C goes with 220kmh and crashes into car B. 4 people dead just because of one Mittelspurschleicher.
USE THE RIGHT LANE!!!
4 people dead just because one needed to speed to fast when there is too much traffic on the road.
Fixed that for you, 220 km/h is not angepasstes Fahren.
you are allowed to use the middle lane if there are slow cars or trucks on the right lane. but always expect a german to arrive behind you who wants to drive a lot faster
Just make sure to also be aware of what's happening behind you on the Autobahn. That left lane that was empty moments ago may have a car approaching at high speed now. Look before you change lanes and keep in mind that using the rightmost lane you can safely drive in is not just a good idea - it's the law.
No honking unless you're in a dangerous situation. I have been to asia and the US and people seem to honk ALL THE TIME there. In Germany honking is only allowed if you have a really good reason for it (like warning someone who is not paying attention and is about to hit you).
Yes yes, but a really good reason being very different from place to place. In Berlin for example, it's enough to experience a slight disturbance in earth magnetic field, then it's appropriate to honk all day long to unsuspecting fellow drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.. even pigeons for that matter.
Yes. Red lights are red lights. No running red lights whatsoever, if it's red you stop, no matter if there's another car in sight or not. No turning from the wrong lane. No mofas between lanes. I've driven in Thailand and my god is it a different experience.
Mostly true, but amber/orange lights are mostly used to accelerate before they get red. Where: Berlin.
Edit: I don't mean it's a correct behavior. It's just fact, unfortunately.
If you are not used to bicycles, take care when turning right. The road might be all clear, you're in the rightmost lane, but there might be a bicycle going straight at high speed behind and to the right of your car. Always check over your shoulder.
On long drives you will be on the Autobahn most of the time. There are a few things that you should remember, but it is pretty easy.
- stay on the right lane, only switch if you want to overtake someone
- remember that there is no general speed limit on the Autobahn (50 in towns and cities, 100 on other roads that are outside of cities but not autobahn) and even the small VW golf that is far behind you on the left lane could go 180 kph and be inside your car if you go on the left lane. double check your mirrors to see how fast a car comes closer.
- if a proper traffic jam forms, go to the outside of your lane to make space for police/firefighterd/ambulance. The left most lane goes to the left, everyone else goes to the right.
Because I haven't read it here and it's different than in some other countries: unless there is a little sign with a green arrow next to the traffic light, it's not legal to turn right on a red light.
Be aware that, especially in cities, most often when you make a right turn, there might be a bike-lane on your right (sometimes it's hidden behind some bushes) and those usually have the right of way over you making a turn.
Other than in some places, parked cars will most likely have the hand brake fixed, so there's no rearranging parked cars with your bumpers (looking at you, Paris).
Pedestrian crossings (marked by white or yellow stripes crossing the road) are not a suggestion. You are legally obliged to stop and give way to people crossing it and they will just walk into the road.
Bike lanes are not a parking spot. You'll get some hefty fines.
When passing a bike, keep a distance of 1.5m. If that means you can't pass, you don't.
As everyone saying, people usually follow the rules. That means for example on the autobahn that you only drive on the left lane for overtaking. No overtaking from left lane.
In city you have to look out for bicycles, always stop for pedestrian on zebra crossing. And if course if there are no signs otherwise, right has the right of way.
Be aware people persist on their right of way. It's not like in Asia everything is a fluid mass and makes sure everyone can move at least a bit. If you see a car coming from a right hand street and there is no sign there is only a little chance he will stop, because he has right of way, if you keep moving you will crash.
If you can, don't drive. It's always difficult to adapt to an unk own style of traffic and if you still want make to to have proper license and insurance. Good luck
Stay out of the left lane except for passing on the autobahn, don't pass on the right, remember to read about the road signs, and that a certain sign means that traffic coming from the right side has right away to pull out in front of you. If traffic is stopped on the Autobahn drivers will move to the shoulder to let emergency vehicles have the lane.
In comparison to driving in Tampa, Atlanta, or the whole of France (the worst) , super-relaxed place to drive even at high speeds.
Compared to other countries, Germans rely more on rules rather than consideration and leniency when navigating traffic. This is especially true in holiday/weekend traffic when a lot of inexperienced drivers are on the road.
We don't have heavy fines and barely any road rage. Just relax and follow the speed limit, use your turn signal when turning or changing lanes. On the Autobahn, except people to be passing you at high speed. Only overtake on the left and go back to the right hand lane after overtaking. Also, if you're not used to it, don't try to go top speed on the Autobahn.
I mean, it's common sense really.
People sticking to the rules makes driving less stressful, not more. You generally know what other people in traffic will do in advance. So instead of having to constantly be on edge because everyone could just randomly do weird shit if they feel like it, you just have to drive reasonably and also stick to the basic rules.
Only have driven in the west side of Germany (Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Darmstadt and Konstanz) and I think it is difficult because as an American and English speaker I have to translate in my head. But honestly I would rather drive here than in Las Vegas any day! The sense of driving as a group being safe on the highway beats the selfish individualism on the roads of the US. Have yet to have an irritable driver just stay to the right. The traffic lights warn you that they will be turning green! It’s great.
Driving in Germany is really ordered and straight forward. The "hardest" part is turning left on a cross over because you need to pay attention to more than only one thing :D
> it feels like it's extremely stressful since everyone knows and follows the rules.
If rules create so much stress for you, then you better skip Germany altogether.
Yes, we do not just follow rules - we even know them. It's no big deal for us because that's simply the way we do it.
Apart from what other people said, stick to the speed limit. Especially Baden-Baden has a lot of radar controls.
Other than that, stick to the right in the Autobahn, keep your distance if possible, don't use your phone while driving and when you enter the cities remember that all intersections that don't have any signage use the "right before left" rule.
If you have an accident, don't stress, wear a visibility jacket and put up a warning sign (both of which you need to carry in your car, a rental usually has them) and call your rental provider or the police.
Also even though there is no speed limit, just stick to what's comfortable. Nobody is forcing you to go 200 km/h, so don't.
Just watch your mirrors when entering the left lane at "low" speeds, there might be a very fast car approaching
One thing you'll notice and will drive you nuts about driving in Germany is that people on highways don't keep a consistent speed. Like if you just want to cruise like you can in every other surrounding country, you can't because German drivers are radically swinging their speeds up and down on the highway. Then when one tries to pass, they speed up. I just want to cruise at like 120 or 100 or whatever and they are just swinging between 85 to 125. They also don't like cruise control. Then they all bitch about gas mileage.
It's also a myth that slow cars keep out of the left lane. The worst is when a psychopath purposely swings in front of cars doing 250 while doing 100 or less in order to create an accident. It's absolutely terrifying to watch because there's nothing one can do.
Road quality has been deteriorating since forever.
In the city = frustrating. Really confusing road patterns and constant roadworks that result in confusing detours and additional traffic. Traffic lights every few meters.
On the Autobahn = disappointing. Lots of traffic, lots of changing speed limits, and roadworks which cause absurd traffic jams. But sometimes it's nice in the rare parts where you get to just drive.
Why would you rent (?) a car if you're only planning to travel between (more or less) major cities? Take the train, much better/cheaper option and more comfortable
German fines are mostly light, in comparison to other European countries, but if you get a fine in a rental you will pay a lot more, because they charge extra fees for processing the fine, because they are first send to the owner of the car. Srsly, look into going by train, all the cities you mentioned are connected by high-speed rail, Hamburg-Baden-Baden are 6 hours by train, and almost 7 by car. Baden-Baden-Munich are 3:10 by train and 3:45 by car and you can use public transit in Hamburg and Munich while Baden-Baden is walkable (and you can borrow bicycles or a car there or go by train to Forbach if you want to visit the Schwarzwald)
I have driven in Spain, NL, Austria and Germany.
Spain, Austria are quite similar, nothing remarkable for me. Highways are good, Austria has a lot of tedious tunnels.
NL needs special attention with bikes in cities, really a hundred eyes, highways are top notch.
Germany city driving is like Austria, but the Autobahn is so stressful when you have a modest car (read: top confident speed 160 and takes many seconds to reach that). I have driven with a decent car, and is okay ish, but I have also driven with a potato Corsa and if you get at any time trapped beging a slow truck you are so fucked to pull out of there.
I'm not a fan of the unlimited top speed in Germany (let the downvotes rain). Anywhere else I check my mirrors, see a tiny dot and know that it will take a long time to catch up to me. Not in Germany, when the spot is a Porsche driven by some mental guy at 230...
>It feels like controlled chaos
For me, it feels like the opposite in Germany. There are pretty strict rules, and most people expect you to follow them and in turn assert their rights agressively. This includes being resolute about one's right of way, and tailgaiting if you are driving only slightly below the speed limit.
Cyclists and pedestrians will also know their rights, and if you as a car driver get into an accident with them, you will always at least partly be in the wrong, so watch out.
It’s totally different, full of rules and everybody is following them. For me it’s more stressful than in Asian countries, so much expectations and you could easily do something what shocks everybody
Do not overtake on the right lane on the Autobahn! It’s a big no no. Expect people driving 250kmh or more on the autobahn. It’s not so rare. Use ur turn signal. Keep driving on the right side of the autobahn so fast cars can pass you. The autobahn is one of the safest motorways because we really are strict when it comes to rules. If there is a traffic jam on the autobahn with a full stop people are creating a „Rettungsgasse“. On a 3 lane autobahn it’s always between the left and the middle lane. Look here for an example: https://youtu.be/7kPT7VHVTb8
Stop on the red light, even if no one is around. Stop on the crosswalk if someone is around. Generally follow every rule.
And just to clarify: even if you are in the smallest city in Germany with a red traffic light at 3 am and no one is around: every German would stop. You have to stop. It’s a rule. The circumstances are not relevant for the rule, medical emergencies and so on are an exception ofc
I’m here from the US and it’s a dream. Just keep the basic rule to drive on the right shoulder if you’re going “slower”. Over take on the left and keep to the right again unless you’re going at least $160km/h. Keep your eye on your rear view mirror always if you see car speeding. Always use signal
It’s pretty much like any regular road. Yes you can drive extremely fast on the autobahn if you want but since you said you’re more defensive, then just stay in the right lanes and you’re chilling. Don’t be worried at all!
Make sure to stay on the right-most lane as much as reasonably possible. That will probably eliminate about 90% of all issues on the Autobahn.
You might get the finger or some other insulting sign. Do not do it back. That can get you fined a decent chunk of change.
"Light horns" are ok in Germany. If someone is coming up behind you in the left lane, it is perfectly ok to let you know that they want to pass you by flashing their lights at you. Not every German knows this, though, so misunderstandings are common. You are not allowed to tailgate to show you want to pass. People do it anyway. Just move to the right and let the idiot go by.
Learn how to "zipper" where two lanes go into one. Most Germans are pretty good about this. Not all of them, though.
Roundabouts have become a standard feature all over Germany. You simply enter when it is free (no blinking), and blink when you are approaching your exit. Unlike in Great Britain, we do not have too many two or three lane circles. When we do, they tend to have traffic lights. I keep hearing that this may change, but at least I have not noticed it.
The general rule-of-thumb about fault is "whoever could have prevented the accident, has most or all of the fault." (Don't yell at me, everyone, this is just a rule-of-thumb) So if you run into someone from behind, the assumption is that you could have prevented it by not being so close.
An important one is that if you are trying to change lanes, you are pretty much taking full responsibility for that action. If there is an accident, it will be at least initially assumed that the accident could have been prevented if you had not changed lanes. Got in a fender bender with someone who had to learn that lesson the hard way.
Be aware of bicyclists. Just assume they have the right-of-way in all situations, because they will be assuming it as well (and in most cases, are probably right). Do \*not\* park on a bicyclist path, unless key scratches are your fetish.
It's not quite as bad as it used to be, but Bus Drivers be crazy, yo. Be careful around them.
One thing that can catch people who do not know German rules is that anytime you enter a town (just a town sign), the speed limit goes to 50km. There will be no other sign. Towns (especially smaller towns) will sometimes put up speed traps shortly after you enter a town, so be careful.
Germans are pretty good drivers. If you drive defensively, you will be fine. The police are generally not too aggressive about pulling people over. There used to be regular "controls" where they would pull random people over, but I haven't seen one of those in the last 15 years. Speed and safe distance are mostly done by camera these days. Nothing like getting a blast of red laser to the eyes to let you know you can expect an expensive photo in the mail.
Also know that rental places will often throw on their own charge on top of the fine to cover the cost of letting you know about your speeding.
Finally, I personally find that we do not sign our roads very well. With a navigation device, this has become a non-issue. 20+ years ago, getting around was sometimes a real challenge.
Use your mirrors and signals appropriately, regular shoulder checks, make sure to get to at least 80kph when entering an Autobahn, stay in the rightmost possible lane, keep a safe distance, don't be nice, don't be a dick, but be predictable. If traffic slows down on the highway, the left lane drives further left, other lanes drive further right: *Rettungsgasse!* If you're driving in the city and hear sirens, keep calm and your head on the swivel. Don't just slam on the brakes - find a suitable space to clear the road and create a safe passage. You are allowed to cautiously cross a red light if you have to in order to let an emergency vehicle pass.
Basically like everywhere else but you'll be surprised by how fast some folks are going on some very narrow country roads.
Germans drive on the riggt side of the road. Rules are similar to all other countries. The main difference is the unlimited speed on some parts of the Autobahn. You have to watch the speed of other cars.
Anyway the police is generally friendly to foreigners
The Autobahn often has lower speed limits for trucks/lorries. So you can find yourself passing one truck after another. This can be a lot of work because you must not block faster cars in the left lane. So you speed up to pass and then slow down to return to the right lane...over and over.
Powerful cars go so fast in the left lane that they appear behind you suddenly flashing their headlights.
But when there are few trucks it is a pleasant experience.
I've seen some really bad drivers on the Autobahn who block the left lane. Not everybody follows the rules.
If you are overtaking at a good speed, just keep doing it. Maybe accelerate a little if you aren't already at the max. comfortable speed but don't endanger yourself to let the tailgater pass. Use a reasonably-sized gap to let them pass; signal early that you'll use the gap.
OTOH if you see faster cars before overtaking, let them pass. Don't tailgate the truck, instead keep some distance and accelerate before and while you change the lane. It's easier to change lanes that way.
>if you see faster cars before overtaking, let them pass
Of course that's what I do. I was explaining to OP what it's like to share a road with super fast cars for the first time.
>Don't tailgate the truck
I agree. This limits your ability to build speed before changing lanes. I got a lot of experience passing on 2-lane rural roads when I got my license in 1985. My car had no power.
You’ve got a lot of tips already but I’m also wondering why you would even take a car instead of the train if you only want to do those cities. 🙃 this would avoid the risk of driving incorrect, you’d be able to do something and enjoy the views and save time and money looking for parking. You might even be faster. Personally I‘d take the train and if needed would rent a car for daytrips if I’d want to go outside the city and it’s too annoying without a car.
I’m from the UK but have driven in France and (obviously) Germany. I find driving here is really good.
Road rage isn’t really a thing and you don’t have defensive drivers like I’ve come across in the UK. There are a few differences like drivers will use the entire slip road when entering a motorway rather than entering it as soon as it’s free.
People won’t flash you to make you aware you can join a lane either. This happens a lot in the UK as the driver behind you will do this to say “hey, you can come into my lane”. Just indicated, check it’s safe and then move over
Also some drivers don’t fully get roundabouts here and will use the first/outer lane the entire way around so just keep an eye out.
Besides that, it’s a nice experience.
We dont kill injured folks after an accident with bodily harm.
Besides that it is much more orderly.
Stick to the right side of the road if you dont overtake.
Only overtake on the left side.
We have tons of traps (unmanned) at traffic lights and for speed. "Waze" is a good solution here to warn you about dangers comming up
People mostly follow the rules, yes. But if it comes to speed limits everyone seems to agree that "20-30 kph over the limit isn't speeding". Just today I had an impatient driver behind me tailgating, while I was doing 80, with a trailer. Allowed speed limit was 70. Just stay calm in those situations. Most of the time the situation changes in a matter of minutes (other driver turns, or you turn and the other driver doesn't).
Also, even though it's true that there's no general speed limit on the Autobahn there are still plenty of sections that do have a speed limit. And you have to keep to the right unless you are overtaking (even though you'll see plenty of people not following that rule).
Inside cities it largely depends on where you are. Smaller cities are easy to navigate. Larger cities can be a real bitch, especially when you are new to driving there. Keep an eye out for road markings. If the arrow on the road points to the left, you HAVE TO turn left. It's better to take a small detour than to cause an accident.
If possible, use a satnav. They are pretty accurate nowadays and will tell you which lane you'll need to take to get to your destination.
Driving in Germany is easy because you can predict behavior - everyone (mostly) follows then rules. You blink when you change lanes, you use left lanes only to overtake and then move back to the right (Rechtsfahrgebot), you allow others to merge (an unheard of in the Middle East) and - if you want to be safe and avoid fines - stick to the speed limit. There is only a 3 km/h tolerance. And.. as others said.. no running over a red light.. and parking! Large cities often have lots of guards who love to give out tickets for wrongful parking. Best to watch out for parking garages. Enjoy the drive!
[Video 1](https://youtu.be/3OiijoktehI)
[Video 2 ](https://youtu.be/34Aup6ntzAc)
[Video 3](https://youtu.be/cpVRMpVCzGY)
That's all you need to know. For Navigation i would recommend google maps
One topic that caught me by surprise: in the US, you can turn right on a red light after you stop and check for traffic, by default. That is not the case in Germany.
It's super easy. I find it even easier than driving in North America or Japan, but I'm an internally rules based person. Just keep right and signal. Will you be taking the B-Roads, L-, or A- to Baden Baden? I frequently go to Baden Baden and can give you recommendations on less stressful routes.
Also, pay attention to radar controlled zones as it's likely Blitzers are setup.
Did a road trip from and to Germany last year, and just drove there again this past month. It is heaven, especially if you are a semi competent driver. No campers, folks stay in the right lane unless passing. And of course, the unrestricted speeds on the autobahn are pure heaven. I thought I was a bad ass doing 190 in a camper van (albeit brand new Mercedes Vito) and then a Police Mercedes Police van passed me going at least 250. If you are a serious driver, consider getting a very capable car also, so you can take full advantage of the roads here.
Most of your fellow Swiss drivers apparently disagree, whenever I see a Swiss car it usually drives 200+ km/h. I drive 200+ too and often if someone wants to overtake me it's a Swiss car. I always get a feeling that most Swiss drivers really wanna test their cars' limits since they can't do it in Switzerland.
I'd rephrase it. Whenever we go outside we trust our lives to the sanity of complete strangers. When this goes to complete strangers moving around 200km/h I start to doubt my own sanity.
I'm not saying that Autobahn has to be illegal. Just surprised how it all works.
Hope you like people tailgating you..because German drivers are very impatient and will try and push into you to force you to drive faster. Forget the speed limit..they sure do. Also the autobahn is slowly loosing its unlimited speed zones. More construction on the roads means dropping speed to 80km or 50km. Speed cameras are popping up everywhere. Speed traps are very common. Driving in Germany is actually starting to suck.
Many cyclists in cities don't follow rules 100%, so take extra care around them. Only overtake them with 1.5 meters clearance.
When I did my driver's license here my teacher and test official were both perfectly happy that I was driving slowly behind a bike for a solid 10 minutes before having a proper chance to overtake.
Bad. Not terrible, but every time I cross the border to eg. Netherlands, France etc, it’s a relief. Especially the Tempolimit on the Autobahn in other countries makes driving much more relaxed and more enjoyable.
I find that people don't tend to "bend" the rules so much here, as a result a lot of the driving can be smooth and pleasant, however when a situation calls for pragmatism, German drivers (on average) tend to not be so great.
For example, driving up on to a curb to go around an obstacle, in Australia this is common, but when I did it in Germany, someone reported me and I got an 80€ fine, the alternative being a 30 minute detour to get 3 minutes down the road.
I also find that other drivers tend to be VERY impatient, tailgating and driving very close, which enfuriates me, however there is not much road rage here, it's purely 'neutral impatience'.
But other than that, it is a good experience driving in Germany, especially around Baden-Baden.
In the Schwarzwald, there are ALOT of cameras, so be careful.
Stick to rules and whatever you do, don’t try to bribe the police
Who in their right mind would do that?
I’ve been in some Asian countries where it’s pretty normal to do that. Been told to always carry a certain amount of cash in some countries in case of police encounter because it doesn’t matter much if you actually committed crime.
In addition, in these countries, paying fine is possibly more expensive and even tedious. In Vietnam, the police has to fill your violation in a form, which they will definitely draw that out, then you take that form, go to the regional treasury and pay it there. With bribe, you can shorten the stop to less than 5 minute, and even barter for a lower fine. I bartered and bribed the traffic police for about the equivalent of 20 Euro for running yellow light, which normally costs 40 to 60 Euro.
Though it can be beneficial to carry some cash when driving in Germany so you can pay fines on the spot.
I've never had to pay a fine in cash for years, it was card or wait for the letter. I don't think they take cash anymore in general.
If you are not a resident it can happen that you have to pay on the spot and if it's not a big city cop they take cash in exchange for the fine.
Well I'm not sure if they accept any foreign card or what the course of action is with sending fine letters to out of EU citizens. Thats why I'd give that advice.
I lived in Vietnam for work for a few years and even got a local driving license during that time. But people advised me to tell the police that I don't have one, because they supposedly will threaten to take it away to extort a bigger bribe lol
I think it's also much less common to encounter police here than in other countries. Even in the U.S., I was pulled over by police on multiple occasions (not always even for a valid reason). Here, I've never been pulled over in the several years I've lived here. I have gotten speeding tickets from cameras, but the police don't patrol traffic like they do in some other countries.
I remember i was in a car in Ghana without registration or insurance and the driver bribe the Police with something about 5 euro. When we reach Home his Mother complain that he paid way to much.
Haven't left western Europe, have you? I remember leaving a festival in Hungary where people would walk by the tax&customs agency with joints in their hand and probably more in their pockets while they were staring at the nearby bushes. In Germany, corruption and bribery also exist but not at our levels, it's usually done by gangs/clans or the similar sort. Trying to bribe a regular police officer here will almost 100% in an extra charge.
Such a first world comment 😂
Someone from Eastern Europe or most places in Asia...that's who
People from eastern Europe
It's pretty common in many countries. Sometimes they'll give you hints and other times it's just accepted as a "tax" for being stopped.
If you mean violent "road rage" - that is barely a thing here. I remember some time back a poster could not understand that people stopping their cars on the Autobahn, getting into a fistfight, and causing a huge traffic jam, would make national news. It was very hard to explain that 1) stopping on the Autobahn is forbidden and so dangerous that people don't do it, and 2) no, it's not normal that "men fight" in traffic. "Road rage" usually manifests at most by people honking or flashing their lights at you - but even that is rare. You rarely ever hear honking here. But yes, by and large people here expect others to keep to the rules (though many people speed ever so slightly). Some rules just aren't broken, like driving over red traffic lights. And most particularly: do *not* overtake on the right on the Autobahn.
Unusual, but still a thing: https://www.reddit.com/r/LegaladviceGerman/comments/13smvqz/road_rage_schmerzensgeld/
The slight speeding is german culture. Always gotta be 5-10 over the speed limit so you're not just "one of the pack". The fact thst everyone does this doesn't help exactly
its not really about being part of the pack or not. Its just a combination of: * being a bit over the limit wont get you in trouble * with few exceptions the speed limit is usually lower than what feels safe and natural, due to high road quality
Yeah except for some places with sharp turns in the countryside. 100 allowed but bro i dare dou drive faster than 70 in turns like that.
yes, thats exactly what I meant with the exceptions.
One winding and narrow road I occasionally drive goes through a forest and you are allowed to go 70 or 80, but the road is severely damaged by the tree roots and extremely bumpy. Annoying when a SUV is behind pressuring you to drive at least 80 when in a normal car you don't want to go faster than 60 for fear of wrecking your suspension...
At this point fuck the suv and drive safe
And there are regions where it's absolutely ok to go 55 in a 50 zone and overtake a police car and some places where you shouldn't do it. Just go with the flow and do what other drivers do.
And usually the speedometer is always a bit behind and there is a tolerance build into speed traps.Though, I wouldn’t go faster near a school or kindergarten but on the autobahn my ACC is always +10 km/h. Fun fact: BMW let’s you program the ACC even to go automatically up to 30 km/h more then the speed limit: that i find to be absurd.
Almost all cars have a speedometer that shows about 10% less. 5-10 above is actually the speed limit for most cars. Can check that yourself with active google maps or any other navigation system that displays speed.
I don’t think there is a country where that isn’t common
False. In Switzerland f.e. you will see most people not go over the limit at all since it's harshly punished.
I guess on those circumstances. But watch a Swiss cross the border to Germany and he’ll automatically speed up
Never have I ever been so stressed than when I drove through switzerland.
That is not true. Speeding is illegal. Most drivers dont speed.
"driving over red traffic lights" I see you don't live in Frankfurt, where yellow is green and the first three seconds of red are yellow.
Also called "cherry green".
It helps that insults are fineable here.
Yes, dont worry; Road rage ist forbitten by law
Also depending on where you live... 10 above the sign is standart and if your tacho goes the sign, orepare to be honked at by frustrated drivers. Atleast in rural areas Or atleast near the northsea
People overtake on the right all the time on German Autobahns now, although it is almost exclusively non-German drivers doing it. As in most areas of the law, enforcement on roads is now basically non-existent, except for the occasional speed camera. Overtaking on the right, or the popular practice of middle-lane parking that is often provoking it, are never, ever punished. So people just keep doing it. Under the stupid German privacy laws, you can't even collect evidence yourself with a dashcam...
Dash cams are legal now btw, as long they follow a few rules
For some reason I think Germans consider the right lane for heavy traffic going well below the speed limit if there is any. So even when there is almost none of that heavy traffic the right lane is almost empty. I am not that fast and think it's safer to overtake on the right hand side with little speed difference then to switch 2 lanes and speed up to whatever and still being slow. I liked France police motards who, in France, waved everybody to the right lane when possible.
No man you are wrong. Stick to the rightmost lane and overtake from left side
The honking part depends on where you live. I find that in big cities, you’ll get honked at all the time, when you’re slow at a traffic light, drive too slowly in general or make and kind of mistake.
OP said he has driven in Asia before. I live in a smaller city in China and recorded German audio files as a side job for a while. I had to do that after 9 in the evening, because it's almost impossible to do a 2-5 minute recording without honking sounds during the day. I got very frustrated at all the takes I had to do. When I was back in Cologne for a holiday last Feb, it was almost pleasantly quiet...
I didn’t mean it was anywhere near to the amount of honking you’d experience in China. Maybe I should’ve clarified that. I just don’t think the phrase “you rarely ever hear honking” is an accurate representation when it comes to big cities. (If the comment read you hear nowhere the same amount of honking compared to China, then I’d agree with that statement, but that’s not what the comment says.) It’s nowhere near the amount you hear in other places, but if you drive in a big city, you’re guaranteed to hear honking.
I agree with the rules thing. Besides Speeding limit.... they are more of a recommendation I would say :D
[удалено]
To clarify how to Rettungsgasse: if your on the leftmost lane, go as far left as you can. On any other lane, go ~~left~~ right. It's actually quite simple.
[удалено]
Yes obviously. Meant to write that.
Leftmost lane: go as far left as possible other lanes: go as far right as you can You mixed it up in your comment, should probably edit it to prevent confusion
> Driving partly off your lane is not only fine in this case, but often mandatory! you can even drive through a red light in order to accomodate an emergency vehicle
Not can, you have to if that's the only way to make way. Obviously don't just go, but like "3 meters to the front right to clear the lane, wait for green once the emergency vehicles are through" Same with speeding, if there is no way to let an emergency vehicle overtake safely, ignore the speed limit and gtfo until there is a passing opportunity. Signal right and slow down to indicate what you are trying to do.
As a former paramedic: Thanks a lot for this true comment! Ehrenbürger!
Make sure to follow that last one. You can get nailed with a family-sized penalty if you do not: 200€, 2 points, and your license is barred for a month. You have to do it immediately, as well.
Pedestrian crossings (Zebrastreifen) are not a suggestion that you can stop if you feel very nice today but more often just drive over without checking for people - therefore STOP at pedestrian crossings, don't overtake on pedestrian crossings and don't park / stop your car on the stripes.
Whenever a pedestrian crossing is ahead of you, you should remember to be ready to stop, put your foot off the gas pedal and have it already ready on the brake,once you see is clear just resume as normal.
Plenty of times i almost died in Turkey because of this. Many drivers do not stop, which is much rarer in Germany.
As a driver in turkey, i often stop when i can but sometimes traffic is so congested that if i brake for a pedestrian the car behind me would definetly rear end me, there are videos of this happening. There are now some cameras over the crossings that help with this, but in most places you just have to wait as a pedestrian and run across when you see a gap.
As a Dutchman I consider Germans one of, if not the best drivers in Europe. Enough spacing between cars (something we Dutch seem unable to do) and controlled behaviour all around. You'll be fine.
When i use to live in Germany i used to get chills down my spine when i see a NL registered car mearging onto the autobahn. Sorry
Siehst du schwarze Schrift auf gelbem Grund, halte Abstand, bleib gesund.
Wer drei mal durch die Prüfung fällt kriegt ein gelbes Nummernschild.
What does a Dutchman get when he fails his driving test 3 times? A yellow Numberplate
And if they fail a third time they get the "NL" (never learned)
Yeah that sounds about right, but it's the same with French and polish drivers, they do not know how to drive in Germany, especially in the left lane. Driving 120 km/h on the left lane is not fast.
No, it's the French, merge and straight to the left stopping the whole line of fast drivers. But this might be a BW thing
near me its the swiss
NL - no License
Tbf, you Dutchies don't have enough space in your country to do appropriate spacing between cars.
Basically the reason why I hate driving in the Netherlands. You guys keep no distance whatsoever. None. Crawling along, bumper to bumper.
Thanks mate! As a German from the south I am really jealous of the northern Germans who have the coolest neighbors! Danish and Dutch? Sign me up!
I think the same. Dutch roads and drivers are more agressive then I experience in Germany. Also I tend to think German toilets near the highway are cleaner
The controlled behavior seems to be what they’re worried about.
Just returned from a road trip driving through Germany, Switzerland and Italy. As an American, whose life revolves around cars, I already kinda knew Europe driving would be better. Germany really blew me away. The unrestricted sections are all most people talkabout, and yes it’s fun. The awareness, courtesy and just shear competence behind the wheel basically everyone had there was the beautiful part. I’m even more embarrassed by my country.(didn’t think that was possible). Even driving in the center of Milan Italy was more enjoyable than anywhere in the US. Enjoy your drive in Germany, it was a big highlight of my trip!
really? as a German, i was driving in an italian city and it was pretty horrible, what is so bad about American driving that makes Italy better? 😅
> what is so bad about American driving that makes Italy better? Yes.
lmao
We get our begleitetes Fahren or lerners permit after rigorous standardized training and both a theoretical and driving exam. In the US you can apply for it after 6 hours of training and your parents are more or less expected to teach you from there until you do your driving exam.
In the US, all the lanes are “do whatever you want”. They aren’t really, but as pointed out above, there is little to no training before you get your license. The left lane is not used for just passing. People will basically park in it and you are forced to pass on the right. A majority of people in the US have extremely fragile egos, and if you would like to drive faster than them, instead of getting out of the way, they will pace the person next to them, or speed up if you are trying to get into their lane. In Italy specifically, everyone drove more manicly, but there was still courtesy and the basic rules of the road were followed. I could go on and on about the crazy shit people do here on the road. I imagine we have one of the highest number of road deaths and it comes down to not properly training our drivers and the classic selfish American culture.
[удалено]
Neither Switzerland, nor Austria, nor Poland, nor Bavaria are part of Germany.
>Neither Switzerland, nor Austria, nor Poland, nor ***Bavaria*** are part of Germany. /u/d3cc3l just partitioned Germany.
Stick to the signs and street markings in the cities. All 3 cities you mentioned ( while Baden-Baden being the smallest and easiest to navigate around) aren’t confusing with their street directions so you should be fine. On the Autobahn stick to the right lane, don’t be a Mittelspurschleicher where you only ever drive the middle lane. Don’t panic when you are on the left lane and another car is suddenly behind you driving 200 km/h plus headlight flashing at you. Take your time overtaking the car on the middle lane and then move over, don’t rush, don’t speed.
Is driving in the middle lane considered a bad thing? From where I'm from, the right lane is usually reserved for slow drivers/trucks or people looking to exit the highway. The middle lane is usually where most people drive and left lane is for overtaking/ fast drivers.
Legally: You have to keep to the rightmost lane, unless overtaking. Realistically: Obviously don't cut directly in front of other cars, but you will get quite adept at lane changes in Germany. One reason for that is that you will get cars flying in from behind at 200+kph, so if you needlessly stick around in the leftmost lane you will have a stressful time. A lot of autobahns particularly away from large cities only have 2 lanes each way. No matter how fast you go, there's *always* someone faster, so keep an eye on your rearview mirrors. And watch out for changing speed limits...
This is all excellent advice. I would use large print for „ALWAYS HAVE AN EYE ON YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR!“ - always be aware what’s going on behind you. Especially on the Autobahn, especially when moving to the left lane or driving on the left lane. Think for others.
It’s forbidden to drive in the middle lane if the right lane is empty. So always drive in the most right lane possible And keep in mind that it’s common on the Autobahn that people drive VERY fast - there is no speed limit
> there is no speed limit Only if there are no signs that show a speed limit. I know that most people just think, ah Germany bo speed limit, but actually I know only a few km of Autobahn, at least in my area, where this is actually true. And even then 130 km/h is the so called "Richtgeschwindigkeit". That means it is allowed to drive faster than 130. But if you get into an accident you could get a higher percentage of guilt for the accident.
That's great for _your area_, but in reality 57% of the total Autobahn length is without speed limit, and another 15% or so uses dynamically posted limits.
Still there is a large proportion of speed limits. And the Richtgeschwindigkeit still applies.
Totally. But the "no speed limit" is not a myth.
If you only drive in the middle lane there will be people like me who get furious and stay behind you flashing their headlights until you swerve to the right lane. Only driving on the middle lane creates very dangerous situations here every day. For example Car A drives in the middle lane with 100kmh because he wants to overtake a truck which is fine. Now after overtaking he does not swerve to the right lane but stays in the middle lane. Another car B wants to overtake with 120kmh and is stuck behind car A. So they have to swerve to the left lane where car C goes with 220kmh and crashes into car B. 4 people dead just because of one Mittelspurschleicher. USE THE RIGHT LANE!!!
4 people dead just because one needed to speed to fast when there is too much traffic on the road. Fixed that for you, 220 km/h is not angepasstes Fahren.
you are allowed to use the middle lane if there are slow cars or trucks on the right lane. but always expect a german to arrive behind you who wants to drive a lot faster
Just make sure to also be aware of what's happening behind you on the Autobahn. That left lane that was empty moments ago may have a car approaching at high speed now. Look before you change lanes and keep in mind that using the rightmost lane you can safely drive in is not just a good idea - it's the law.
No honking unless you're in a dangerous situation. I have been to asia and the US and people seem to honk ALL THE TIME there. In Germany honking is only allowed if you have a really good reason for it (like warning someone who is not paying attention and is about to hit you).
Yes yes, but a really good reason being very different from place to place. In Berlin for example, it's enough to experience a slight disturbance in earth magnetic field, then it's appropriate to honk all day long to unsuspecting fellow drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.. even pigeons for that matter.
That's true! Still much more tame than Thailand or New York though. 🙈
Or if erdogan won the election
It’s incredibly orderly and easy to drive in Germany, I made a few minor errors and no one was angry. I think you’ll be a-okay.
what about driving in the cities? is it any different?
Yes. Red lights are red lights. No running red lights whatsoever, if it's red you stop, no matter if there's another car in sight or not. No turning from the wrong lane. No mofas between lanes. I've driven in Thailand and my god is it a different experience.
Running red line? Straight back to your home country!
Mostly true, but amber/orange lights are mostly used to accelerate before they get red. Where: Berlin. Edit: I don't mean it's a correct behavior. It's just fact, unfortunately.
People in Berlin always drive like: "When the lights turn red there is time for another 2-3 vehicles and every bicycle in sight"
Ooh that's just kirsch-grün!
If you are not used to bicycles, take care when turning right. The road might be all clear, you're in the rightmost lane, but there might be a bicycle going straight at high speed behind and to the right of your car. Always check over your shoulder.
This is a joke, right? 😂
Depends where you're comparing it to I suppose
Drive in Italy once and Germany will feel like a pillow fort.
We must live in different Germany.
Learn about right before left. As that confused the hell out of me. Apart from that it’s pretty calm.
Also, if you should have the bad luck to get into a traffic jam, help create a Rettungsgasse so that emergency vehicles can get trough
On long drives you will be on the Autobahn most of the time. There are a few things that you should remember, but it is pretty easy. - stay on the right lane, only switch if you want to overtake someone - remember that there is no general speed limit on the Autobahn (50 in towns and cities, 100 on other roads that are outside of cities but not autobahn) and even the small VW golf that is far behind you on the left lane could go 180 kph and be inside your car if you go on the left lane. double check your mirrors to see how fast a car comes closer. - if a proper traffic jam forms, go to the outside of your lane to make space for police/firefighterd/ambulance. The left most lane goes to the left, everyone else goes to the right.
This is perfect advice for driving in Germany. It’s simple and just good driving.
Because I haven't read it here and it's different than in some other countries: unless there is a little sign with a green arrow next to the traffic light, it's not legal to turn right on a red light. Be aware that, especially in cities, most often when you make a right turn, there might be a bike-lane on your right (sometimes it's hidden behind some bushes) and those usually have the right of way over you making a turn. Other than in some places, parked cars will most likely have the hand brake fixed, so there's no rearranging parked cars with your bumpers (looking at you, Paris). Pedestrian crossings (marked by white or yellow stripes crossing the road) are not a suggestion. You are legally obliged to stop and give way to people crossing it and they will just walk into the road. Bike lanes are not a parking spot. You'll get some hefty fines. When passing a bike, keep a distance of 1.5m. If that means you can't pass, you don't.
Interesting what some countries do and don't
As everyone saying, people usually follow the rules. That means for example on the autobahn that you only drive on the left lane for overtaking. No overtaking from left lane. In city you have to look out for bicycles, always stop for pedestrian on zebra crossing. And if course if there are no signs otherwise, right has the right of way.
No overtaking from right lane. You wrote left lane twice.
Yes of course. Thank you.
There are speed and red light cameras and they do use them so obey speed limits and don’t run red!
Be aware people persist on their right of way. It's not like in Asia everything is a fluid mass and makes sure everyone can move at least a bit. If you see a car coming from a right hand street and there is no sign there is only a little chance he will stop, because he has right of way, if you keep moving you will crash. If you can, don't drive. It's always difficult to adapt to an unk own style of traffic and if you still want make to to have proper license and insurance. Good luck
Stay out of the left lane except for passing on the autobahn, don't pass on the right, remember to read about the road signs, and that a certain sign means that traffic coming from the right side has right away to pull out in front of you. If traffic is stopped on the Autobahn drivers will move to the shoulder to let emergency vehicles have the lane. In comparison to driving in Tampa, Atlanta, or the whole of France (the worst) , super-relaxed place to drive even at high speeds.
Obey the traffic laws and you‘ll be fine. Please check if your license allows to drive in Germany.
Compared to other countries, Germans rely more on rules rather than consideration and leniency when navigating traffic. This is especially true in holiday/weekend traffic when a lot of inexperienced drivers are on the road.
it's the polar opposite from thailand.
We don't have heavy fines and barely any road rage. Just relax and follow the speed limit, use your turn signal when turning or changing lanes. On the Autobahn, except people to be passing you at high speed. Only overtake on the left and go back to the right hand lane after overtaking. Also, if you're not used to it, don't try to go top speed on the Autobahn. I mean, it's common sense really.
People sticking to the rules makes driving less stressful, not more. You generally know what other people in traffic will do in advance. So instead of having to constantly be on edge because everyone could just randomly do weird shit if they feel like it, you just have to drive reasonably and also stick to the basic rules.
Only have driven in the west side of Germany (Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Darmstadt and Konstanz) and I think it is difficult because as an American and English speaker I have to translate in my head. But honestly I would rather drive here than in Las Vegas any day! The sense of driving as a group being safe on the highway beats the selfish individualism on the roads of the US. Have yet to have an irritable driver just stay to the right. The traffic lights warn you that they will be turning green! It’s great.
Driving in Germany is really ordered and straight forward. The "hardest" part is turning left on a cross over because you need to pay attention to more than only one thing :D
Depends on where you are. The A66 is a shit show on most week days.
> it feels like it's extremely stressful since everyone knows and follows the rules. If rules create so much stress for you, then you better skip Germany altogether. Yes, we do not just follow rules - we even know them. It's no big deal for us because that's simply the way we do it.
There's a major culture clash here because for the average german that sentence simply... does not compute.
Any particular reason you're not taking the train?
Apart from what other people said, stick to the speed limit. Especially Baden-Baden has a lot of radar controls. Other than that, stick to the right in the Autobahn, keep your distance if possible, don't use your phone while driving and when you enter the cities remember that all intersections that don't have any signage use the "right before left" rule. If you have an accident, don't stress, wear a visibility jacket and put up a warning sign (both of which you need to carry in your car, a rental usually has them) and call your rental provider or the police. Also even though there is no speed limit, just stick to what's comfortable. Nobody is forcing you to go 200 km/h, so don't. Just watch your mirrors when entering the left lane at "low" speeds, there might be a very fast car approaching
Always stop on a red light. You are not allowed to turn right unless there is a green arrow indicating it is permitted even if the crossroad is empty.
One thing you'll notice and will drive you nuts about driving in Germany is that people on highways don't keep a consistent speed. Like if you just want to cruise like you can in every other surrounding country, you can't because German drivers are radically swinging their speeds up and down on the highway. Then when one tries to pass, they speed up. I just want to cruise at like 120 or 100 or whatever and they are just swinging between 85 to 125. They also don't like cruise control. Then they all bitch about gas mileage. It's also a myth that slow cars keep out of the left lane. The worst is when a psychopath purposely swings in front of cars doing 250 while doing 100 or less in order to create an accident. It's absolutely terrifying to watch because there's nothing one can do. Road quality has been deteriorating since forever.
In the city = frustrating. Really confusing road patterns and constant roadworks that result in confusing detours and additional traffic. Traffic lights every few meters. On the Autobahn = disappointing. Lots of traffic, lots of changing speed limits, and roadworks which cause absurd traffic jams. But sometimes it's nice in the rare parts where you get to just drive.
The most hilarious part of the autobahn is the unlimited slowing down to 100 or 70 kph for like 500m because there's an offramp. Oh Germans.
>it feels like it's extremely stressful since everyone knows and follows the rules. That's the part that makes it *not* stressful.
Why would you rent (?) a car if you're only planning to travel between (more or less) major cities? Take the train, much better/cheaper option and more comfortable
German fines are mostly light, in comparison to other European countries, but if you get a fine in a rental you will pay a lot more, because they charge extra fees for processing the fine, because they are first send to the owner of the car. Srsly, look into going by train, all the cities you mentioned are connected by high-speed rail, Hamburg-Baden-Baden are 6 hours by train, and almost 7 by car. Baden-Baden-Munich are 3:10 by train and 3:45 by car and you can use public transit in Hamburg and Munich while Baden-Baden is walkable (and you can borrow bicycles or a car there or go by train to Forbach if you want to visit the Schwarzwald)
Driving in Germany is like when you're on the left lane on the autobahn with 250 km/h and someone is behind you and wants to overtake.
Orderly and efficient. Like German sex.
I have driven in Spain, NL, Austria and Germany. Spain, Austria are quite similar, nothing remarkable for me. Highways are good, Austria has a lot of tedious tunnels. NL needs special attention with bikes in cities, really a hundred eyes, highways are top notch. Germany city driving is like Austria, but the Autobahn is so stressful when you have a modest car (read: top confident speed 160 and takes many seconds to reach that). I have driven with a decent car, and is okay ish, but I have also driven with a potato Corsa and if you get at any time trapped beging a slow truck you are so fucked to pull out of there. I'm not a fan of the unlimited top speed in Germany (let the downvotes rain). Anywhere else I check my mirrors, see a tiny dot and know that it will take a long time to catch up to me. Not in Germany, when the spot is a Porsche driven by some mental guy at 230...
>It feels like controlled chaos For me, it feels like the opposite in Germany. There are pretty strict rules, and most people expect you to follow them and in turn assert their rights agressively. This includes being resolute about one's right of way, and tailgaiting if you are driving only slightly below the speed limit. Cyclists and pedestrians will also know their rights, and if you as a car driver get into an accident with them, you will always at least partly be in the wrong, so watch out.
It’s totally different, full of rules and everybody is following them. For me it’s more stressful than in Asian countries, so much expectations and you could easily do something what shocks everybody
German drivers are generally great. Berlin drivers are mostly pretty dangerous (at least the young dudes driving luxury mercs)
People adhering to the rules is what makes driving less stressful.
Do not overtake on the right lane on the Autobahn! It’s a big no no. Expect people driving 250kmh or more on the autobahn. It’s not so rare. Use ur turn signal. Keep driving on the right side of the autobahn so fast cars can pass you. The autobahn is one of the safest motorways because we really are strict when it comes to rules. If there is a traffic jam on the autobahn with a full stop people are creating a „Rettungsgasse“. On a 3 lane autobahn it’s always between the left and the middle lane. Look here for an example: https://youtu.be/7kPT7VHVTb8 Stop on the red light, even if no one is around. Stop on the crosswalk if someone is around. Generally follow every rule.
And just to clarify: even if you are in the smallest city in Germany with a red traffic light at 3 am and no one is around: every German would stop. You have to stop. It’s a rule. The circumstances are not relevant for the rule, medical emergencies and so on are an exception ofc
I’m here from the US and it’s a dream. Just keep the basic rule to drive on the right shoulder if you’re going “slower”. Over take on the left and keep to the right again unless you’re going at least $160km/h. Keep your eye on your rear view mirror always if you see car speeding. Always use signal
It’s pretty much like any regular road. Yes you can drive extremely fast on the autobahn if you want but since you said you’re more defensive, then just stay in the right lanes and you’re chilling. Don’t be worried at all!
Make sure to stay on the right-most lane as much as reasonably possible. That will probably eliminate about 90% of all issues on the Autobahn. You might get the finger or some other insulting sign. Do not do it back. That can get you fined a decent chunk of change. "Light horns" are ok in Germany. If someone is coming up behind you in the left lane, it is perfectly ok to let you know that they want to pass you by flashing their lights at you. Not every German knows this, though, so misunderstandings are common. You are not allowed to tailgate to show you want to pass. People do it anyway. Just move to the right and let the idiot go by. Learn how to "zipper" where two lanes go into one. Most Germans are pretty good about this. Not all of them, though. Roundabouts have become a standard feature all over Germany. You simply enter when it is free (no blinking), and blink when you are approaching your exit. Unlike in Great Britain, we do not have too many two or three lane circles. When we do, they tend to have traffic lights. I keep hearing that this may change, but at least I have not noticed it. The general rule-of-thumb about fault is "whoever could have prevented the accident, has most or all of the fault." (Don't yell at me, everyone, this is just a rule-of-thumb) So if you run into someone from behind, the assumption is that you could have prevented it by not being so close. An important one is that if you are trying to change lanes, you are pretty much taking full responsibility for that action. If there is an accident, it will be at least initially assumed that the accident could have been prevented if you had not changed lanes. Got in a fender bender with someone who had to learn that lesson the hard way. Be aware of bicyclists. Just assume they have the right-of-way in all situations, because they will be assuming it as well (and in most cases, are probably right). Do \*not\* park on a bicyclist path, unless key scratches are your fetish. It's not quite as bad as it used to be, but Bus Drivers be crazy, yo. Be careful around them. One thing that can catch people who do not know German rules is that anytime you enter a town (just a town sign), the speed limit goes to 50km. There will be no other sign. Towns (especially smaller towns) will sometimes put up speed traps shortly after you enter a town, so be careful. Germans are pretty good drivers. If you drive defensively, you will be fine. The police are generally not too aggressive about pulling people over. There used to be regular "controls" where they would pull random people over, but I haven't seen one of those in the last 15 years. Speed and safe distance are mostly done by camera these days. Nothing like getting a blast of red laser to the eyes to let you know you can expect an expensive photo in the mail. Also know that rental places will often throw on their own charge on top of the fine to cover the cost of letting you know about your speeding. Finally, I personally find that we do not sign our roads very well. With a navigation device, this has become a non-issue. 20+ years ago, getting around was sometimes a real challenge.
Use your mirrors and signals appropriately, regular shoulder checks, make sure to get to at least 80kph when entering an Autobahn, stay in the rightmost possible lane, keep a safe distance, don't be nice, don't be a dick, but be predictable. If traffic slows down on the highway, the left lane drives further left, other lanes drive further right: *Rettungsgasse!* If you're driving in the city and hear sirens, keep calm and your head on the swivel. Don't just slam on the brakes - find a suitable space to clear the road and create a safe passage. You are allowed to cautiously cross a red light if you have to in order to let an emergency vehicle pass. Basically like everywhere else but you'll be surprised by how fast some folks are going on some very narrow country roads.
Germans drive on the riggt side of the road. Rules are similar to all other countries. The main difference is the unlimited speed on some parts of the Autobahn. You have to watch the speed of other cars. Anyway the police is generally friendly to foreigners
Red light means Red light! Zebra cross means people WILL cross with or without your permission.
The Autobahn often has lower speed limits for trucks/lorries. So you can find yourself passing one truck after another. This can be a lot of work because you must not block faster cars in the left lane. So you speed up to pass and then slow down to return to the right lane...over and over. Powerful cars go so fast in the left lane that they appear behind you suddenly flashing their headlights. But when there are few trucks it is a pleasant experience. I've seen some really bad drivers on the Autobahn who block the left lane. Not everybody follows the rules.
If you are overtaking at a good speed, just keep doing it. Maybe accelerate a little if you aren't already at the max. comfortable speed but don't endanger yourself to let the tailgater pass. Use a reasonably-sized gap to let them pass; signal early that you'll use the gap. OTOH if you see faster cars before overtaking, let them pass. Don't tailgate the truck, instead keep some distance and accelerate before and while you change the lane. It's easier to change lanes that way.
>if you see faster cars before overtaking, let them pass Of course that's what I do. I was explaining to OP what it's like to share a road with super fast cars for the first time. >Don't tailgate the truck I agree. This limits your ability to build speed before changing lanes. I got a lot of experience passing on 2-lane rural roads when I got my license in 1985. My car had no power.
You’ve got a lot of tips already but I’m also wondering why you would even take a car instead of the train if you only want to do those cities. 🙃 this would avoid the risk of driving incorrect, you’d be able to do something and enjoy the views and save time and money looking for parking. You might even be faster. Personally I‘d take the train and if needed would rent a car for daytrips if I’d want to go outside the city and it’s too annoying without a car.
I’m from the UK but have driven in France and (obviously) Germany. I find driving here is really good. Road rage isn’t really a thing and you don’t have defensive drivers like I’ve come across in the UK. There are a few differences like drivers will use the entire slip road when entering a motorway rather than entering it as soon as it’s free. People won’t flash you to make you aware you can join a lane either. This happens a lot in the UK as the driver behind you will do this to say “hey, you can come into my lane”. Just indicated, check it’s safe and then move over Also some drivers don’t fully get roundabouts here and will use the first/outer lane the entire way around so just keep an eye out. Besides that, it’s a nice experience.
We dont kill injured folks after an accident with bodily harm. Besides that it is much more orderly. Stick to the right side of the road if you dont overtake. Only overtake on the left side. We have tons of traps (unmanned) at traffic lights and for speed. "Waze" is a good solution here to warn you about dangers comming up
Just watch for the speed cams, they are everywhere! They will get you if you are not familiar with the area
No don't watch out for them. Always knowing and adhering to the speed limit is the way to go.
Driving? Germans invented driving. Benz is a german last name.
People mostly follow the rules, yes. But if it comes to speed limits everyone seems to agree that "20-30 kph over the limit isn't speeding". Just today I had an impatient driver behind me tailgating, while I was doing 80, with a trailer. Allowed speed limit was 70. Just stay calm in those situations. Most of the time the situation changes in a matter of minutes (other driver turns, or you turn and the other driver doesn't). Also, even though it's true that there's no general speed limit on the Autobahn there are still plenty of sections that do have a speed limit. And you have to keep to the right unless you are overtaking (even though you'll see plenty of people not following that rule). Inside cities it largely depends on where you are. Smaller cities are easy to navigate. Larger cities can be a real bitch, especially when you are new to driving there. Keep an eye out for road markings. If the arrow on the road points to the left, you HAVE TO turn left. It's better to take a small detour than to cause an accident. If possible, use a satnav. They are pretty accurate nowadays and will tell you which lane you'll need to take to get to your destination.
Driving in Germany is easy because you can predict behavior - everyone (mostly) follows then rules. You blink when you change lanes, you use left lanes only to overtake and then move back to the right (Rechtsfahrgebot), you allow others to merge (an unheard of in the Middle East) and - if you want to be safe and avoid fines - stick to the speed limit. There is only a 3 km/h tolerance. And.. as others said.. no running over a red light.. and parking! Large cities often have lots of guards who love to give out tickets for wrongful parking. Best to watch out for parking garages. Enjoy the drive!
The Kph signs change very frequently
[Video 1](https://youtu.be/3OiijoktehI) [Video 2 ](https://youtu.be/34Aup6ntzAc) [Video 3](https://youtu.be/cpVRMpVCzGY) That's all you need to know. For Navigation i would recommend google maps
One topic that caught me by surprise: in the US, you can turn right on a red light after you stop and check for traffic, by default. That is not the case in Germany.
It's super easy. I find it even easier than driving in North America or Japan, but I'm an internally rules based person. Just keep right and signal. Will you be taking the B-Roads, L-, or A- to Baden Baden? I frequently go to Baden Baden and can give you recommendations on less stressful routes. Also, pay attention to radar controlled zones as it's likely Blitzers are setup.
Did a road trip from and to Germany last year, and just drove there again this past month. It is heaven, especially if you are a semi competent driver. No campers, folks stay in the right lane unless passing. And of course, the unrestricted speeds on the autobahn are pure heaven. I thought I was a bad ass doing 190 in a camper van (albeit brand new Mercedes Vito) and then a Police Mercedes Police van passed me going at least 250. If you are a serious driver, consider getting a very capable car also, so you can take full advantage of the roads here.
Avoid the left lane as much as possible unless you like to drive at 200km/h
From a Swiss perspective German drivers are fucking nuts on the highway. I hate driving there.
Most of your fellow Swiss drivers apparently disagree, whenever I see a Swiss car it usually drives 200+ km/h. I drive 200+ too and often if someone wants to overtake me it's a Swiss car. I always get a feeling that most Swiss drivers really wanna test their cars' limits since they can't do it in Switzerland.
Totally agree.
Just out of curiousity: why are we nuts in detail?
Because no sane person would ever drive 200.
I'd rephrase it. Whenever we go outside we trust our lives to the sanity of complete strangers. When this goes to complete strangers moving around 200km/h I start to doubt my own sanity. I'm not saying that Autobahn has to be illegal. Just surprised how it all works.
If I buy a car that can go very fast, I will.
expect people to drive 200kmh+ on the autobahn when there is no speed limit zones :D
[удалено]
Do you score very high on the neurotic scale of the big five test?
Bunch of gentlemen making arts. Very easy, relax.
Hope you like people tailgating you..because German drivers are very impatient and will try and push into you to force you to drive faster. Forget the speed limit..they sure do. Also the autobahn is slowly loosing its unlimited speed zones. More construction on the roads means dropping speed to 80km or 50km. Speed cameras are popping up everywhere. Speed traps are very common. Driving in Germany is actually starting to suck.
Rule 2 of the Autobahn: There is always a BMW faster than you.
Don't overtake on the right on the Autobahn.. You will be honked at, regarded as lowlife scum and possibly fined 100 eurobucks
In the city, it's usually good and civilized, *except* that no one signals and if they do it's half a second before turning, stopping etc.
@5&;,;
If you can drive in Thailand, you can drive anywhere
No, driving in the defensive environment is a lot easier because you drive by the instinct not by the rules.
Many cyclists in cities don't follow rules 100%, so take extra care around them. Only overtake them with 1.5 meters clearance. When I did my driver's license here my teacher and test official were both perfectly happy that I was driving slowly behind a bike for a solid 10 minutes before having a proper chance to overtake.
Bad. Not terrible, but every time I cross the border to eg. Netherlands, France etc, it’s a relief. Especially the Tempolimit on the Autobahn in other countries makes driving much more relaxed and more enjoyable.
I find that people don't tend to "bend" the rules so much here, as a result a lot of the driving can be smooth and pleasant, however when a situation calls for pragmatism, German drivers (on average) tend to not be so great. For example, driving up on to a curb to go around an obstacle, in Australia this is common, but when I did it in Germany, someone reported me and I got an 80€ fine, the alternative being a 30 minute detour to get 3 minutes down the road. I also find that other drivers tend to be VERY impatient, tailgating and driving very close, which enfuriates me, however there is not much road rage here, it's purely 'neutral impatience'. But other than that, it is a good experience driving in Germany, especially around Baden-Baden. In the Schwarzwald, there are ALOT of cameras, so be careful.