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This page last updated November 9, 2024 |
The Autobahn is the pinnacle of the German driving experience, perhaps the ultimate in driving altogether. Virtually all of the world's serious drivers have heard of it and longed to take their shot at conquering it. Teutonic cars are known for their precise engineering and craftsmanship, and the Autobahn completes the driving equation.
Americans (and maybe others) often come with some misconceptions about the Autobahn. Many think the Autobahn is a single road, but it's actually a network of highways, just like "the Interstate" is in the US. And some have visions of a twenty-lane superhighway where cars are barely a blur as they whiz by. But in reality, the Autobahn looks much like a typical freeway in the US and elsewhere, and despite rumors to the contrary, not everyone is hurtling along at the speed of sound. The stories of speed anarchy are only half correct — many sections of Autobahn do in fact have speed limits.
Still, the Autobahn offers the transcendent driving experience. The roads are superbly designed, built and maintained, even now in the east where the German government had to undo 40 years of Communist neglect. Amenities are numerous, and drivers are well-trained and cooperative. It's literally life in the fast lane on the Autobahn. (Don't tell me you didn't see that coming. 😜)
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History
While Adolf Hitler is often credited with coming up with the idea for the Autobahn (partly because he claimed to have done so), the concept actually pre-dates him. What is often-cited as the world's first motorway-like road was built in Berlin between 1913 and 1921. The 19 km long AVUS ("Automobil-Verkehrs-und Übungsstraße") in southwestern Berlin was an experimental combination highway and racetrack. It featured two eight-meter lanes separated by a nine-meter wide median. However, it was a private road that provided limited connectivity. It did not open to the public until 1940 when it was extended to the Berliner Ring. By this time, other motorways had opened elsewhere both in Germany and the world. The AVUS was still used for occasional races all the way up to 1998. Today, the road is part of the A115, and the former grandstand and control tower are still in place.
Italy opened the world's first public motorway (Autostrada) between Milan and Lake Como in 1924. However, it was just a single lane in each direction with no median. The first public motorway with a median was the Bronx River Parkway outside New York City, which opened in 1922.
In Germany, the first purpose-built public "junction-free motor vehicle road" — a forerunner to the Autobahn — started construction in 1929 and opened in 1932 between Cologne and Bonn; it's still in use today as the A555. It was conceived by Cologne mayor Konrad Adenauer as an upgrade to the busy and dangerous country road connecting the two cities. However, like Italy's early Autostrada, it did not have a center median or barrier, and while it was wide enough on each side for two lanes, it was not marked as such.
In 1933, a 2.8 km section of provincial motorway was opened near Opladen as part of a planned route between Cologne and Dusseldorf. It had two lanes in each direction, but no physical center median or barrier. This section is part of today's A3.
After his ascension in 1933, Adolf Hitler, seeing the propaganda, employment, and expansionist benefits of a high-speed road system, embarked on an ambitious program to build two north-south and east-west motorways. The first of these Reichsautobahnen opened in 1935 between Frankfurt and Darmstadt as part of the so-called "HaFraBa" route running from Hamburg to Basel via Frankfurt. That route had been conceived in 1926, and plans were expanded in late 1933 to include additional routes as the world's first motorway network.
The term "Autobahn" appears to have been coined by Robert Otzen in 1929 while he was chairman of the association responsible for planning the HaFraBa route.
Construction of the Reichsautobahnen initially progressed rapidly, with about 1,000 km built yearly from 1936 to 1939. However, work slowed significantly during World War II, with only about 600 km built between 1940 and 1945. At the end of the war, some 3,900 km of Autobahn had been completed, with about 2,200 km of that in the area that became West Germany.
After the war, work began quickly in West Germany to repair damaged or destroyed sections. Construction on new sections finally started again in 1953, with 144 km added between 1953 and 1958, bringing the total to 2,272 km. Starting in 1959, West Germany began Autobahn expansion in earnest by embarking on a series of four-year plans that expanded the Bundesautobahnen system to 3,076 km by 1964; 4,110 km by 1970; 5,258 km by 1973; 6,207 km by 1976; 7,029 km by 1979; and 8,080 km by 1984.
A new series of five-year plans, with the goal of putting an Autobahn entrance within 10 km of any point in West Germany, expanded the net to over 8,800 km by 1990. The reunification of Germany in 1990, however, put those plans on hold as the federal government focused on absorbing and upgrading the Autobahns it inherited from East Germany. The incorporation of those eastern Autobahns put the total Autobahn network at almost 11,000 km in 1992. Additions to the unified network increased the total to 11,515 km in 2000; 12,531 km in 2007; and 13,009 in 2018. As of 2023, there are 13,172 km of Autobahn.
Until 2000, the Autobahn was the world's second largest superhighway system after only the US Interstate System. Today, however, the Autobahn network has dropped to fifth place, having been eclipsed by China, Spain, and Canada.
In addition to expansion, West Germany worked to develop and implement improved designs and features. As discussed above, early Autobahns were somewhat crude by today's standards. The earliest "motor vehicle roads" had a single lane in each direction and no median or center barrier. While the Reichsautobahnen improved on those early designs, they still had no shoulders and, while they had center grass medians, they had no center barrier and often had trees in the median. Signage and markings were minimal compared to today's standards, and, while the main roadway was concrete, it was typically segmented, and ramps and waysides typically had cobblestone surfaces, which were treacherous in wet conditions. By the 1970s, West Germany had begun implementing most of the features of modern Autobahns that we take for granted today including continuous shoulders, center median crash barriers, frequent roadside emergency telephones, improved interchanges, seamless and skid-resistant pavement, standardized and intuitive signage, and ample, well-provisioned service areas. Intelligent traffic management systems would follow beginning in the 1980s.
Design
The general rule for design is to provide for unimpeded, high-speed traffic flow. Unimproved older segments aside, most Autobahns feature the following design elements:
- Two, three, or occasionally four lanes per direction. Lanes on rural sections are generally 3.75 meters wide except the left lane of newer three lane segments where it's 3.5 meters wide. On urban sections, all lanes are 3.5 meters wide.
- A landscaped 4 meter wide "green" median (narrower in urban areas), typically with a double guardrail. Glare screens are often used on curves. Some newer sections have concrete barriers instead of green medians.
- Outside emergency shoulders and long acceleration and deceleration lanes.
- Full grade-separation and access control, generally provided by half cloverleaf interchanges at exits and full cloverleafs or directional interchanges at Autobahn junctions. Interchanges are generally widely-spaced, sometimes exceeding 30 km between.
- Grades of 4% or less. Climbing lanes are provided on most steep grades.
- Gentle and well-banked curves.
- Freeze-resistant concrete or bituminous surface.
- Roadbed and surface typically measuring about 75 cm (30 inches) in thickness.
In addition, Autobahns are equipped with the following:
- Reflector guide posts at 50 meter intervals.
- Frequent parking areas, often equipped with toilet facilities.
- Extensive and ample service areas featuring fuel stations, restaurants, and hotels.
- Automated traffic and weather monitoring and dynamic signs for displaying variable speed limits and/or advance warning of congestion, accidents, construction, and fog.
- Emergency telephones at 2 km intervals.
- Pre-signed detour routes to facilitate emergency closures.
- Standardized signage.
- Wildlife protection fencing, crossover tunnels and "green bridges".
Maintenance is superb. Crews inspect every square meter of the system periodically using vehicles with high-tech road scanning equipment. When a fissure or other defect is found, the entire road section is often replaced as patches are often unreliable and can cause bumps or dips that are dangerous at high speeds. Signs, barriers, and other features are also well-maintained.
That said, the Autobahn, like the rail system, has suffered from some neglect over the years due to funding shortages. Over half of the bridges on the Autobahn are over 40 years old and were not designed for today's traffic volumes and heavy vehicles. As a result, recent reports indicate that as many as 5,000 of the 40,000 or so bridges on the Autobahn are in need of major repairs or replacement. In 2021, a major bridge on the A45 was closed to traffic after an inspection revealed it was in danger of collapsing. It has since been demolished and a replacement is currently under construction with completion expected in late 2027. The government has announced changes to procurement, environmental, and public participation requirements in order to expedite repairs.
There are over 75 tunnels on the Autobahn network, both through mountains as well as in urban areas. The longest is the nearly 8 km long Rennsteigtunnel along the A71 south of Erfurt. As a result of several tragic tunnel disasters in Europe in the past few decades, extra emphasis has been placed on tunnel safety. All road tunnels have extensive safety systems including 24-hour monitoring, motorist information radio and dynamic signs, frequent refuge rooms with emergency telephones and firefighting equipment, extensive emergency lighting and exits, and smoke ventilation systems. So-called "block processing" is implemented as a safety measure during traffic jams (more on that in the "traffic management" section below).
Rules of the road
To safely facilitate heavy, high-speed traffic, special laws apply when driving on the Autobahn:
- Bicycles, mopeds, and pedestrians are specifically prohibited from using the Autobahn, as are any other vehicles with a maximum speed rating of less than 60 km/h (36 mph).
- Entering and exiting is permitted only at marked interchanges.
- Traffic entering the Autobahn must yield to traffic already on the Autobahn.
- Drive right, pass left (Rechtsfahrgebot) is strictly enforced! Passing on the right is prohibited. You must only use the left lane while passing, and drivers in the left and center lanes must move to the right to allow faster traffic to pass. When passing, you must do so as quickly as possible, and it's in your best interest to do so lest you become a new hood ornament on that Porsche that was just a speck in your mirror a second ago and now is close enough for you to see the look of disdain on the driver's face. You are, however, allowed to pass on the right in heavy traffic (when traffic is moving less than 60 km/h), but only at no more than 20 km/h faster than traffic in the adjacent lanes. You may also pass on the right while you are still in the designated acceleration lane when entering the Autobahn.
- Stopping, parking, U-turns, and backing-up are strictly verboten, including on shoulders and ramps (except for bonafide emergencies of course).
- Driving on the shoulder to pass stopped traffic is prohibited.
- During traffic jams, motorists must immediately create a "rescue lane" (Rettungsgasse) for emergency vehicles. To do so, drivers in the left lane are required to move as far to the left as possible and those in the lanes to the right must move as far to the right as possible, thus leaving a gap between the left lane and the adjacent lane for emergency vehicles to use (see photo below). Only emergency vehicles are allowed to drive in the Rettungsgasse. (Penalties for this were increased recently, and a widespread public education campaign is underway to remind drivers of this requirement.)
- If you have a breakdown or accident, you must move to the shoulder if possible and place a warning triangle 200 meters behind the scene. You must report the incident to the authorities as soon as possible by mobile phone or using the nearest emergency phone (see "emergencies" section below).
- You can be cited if you run out of fuel on the Autobahn. While there is no law explicitly against this, it is illegal to stop unnecessarily on the Autobahn, and this law is often applied to people who run out of fuel as such an occurrence is deemed to be preventable and the driver negligent for not keeping sufficient fuel in the vehicle.
- On Autobahn sections with three travel lanes in a direction, trucks over 3.5 tonnes and any vehicle with a trailer are prohibited from using the far left lane.
In addition to the official laws, most drivers adhere to the following customs:
- Motorists at the rear of a traffic jam often switch on their hazard blinkers to warn approaching traffic of the slowdown. (It's probably as much a self-preservation exercise as a courtesy to approaching drivers.)
- Many drivers flash their high beams ("Lichthupe", literally "light honking") or switch on their left turn signal to politely (or not) request that the driver in front of them move to the right to let them pass. While the law seemingly allows this, there are reports that drivers have been cited for doing this. Generally, it appears that courts have held that this is considered a form of coercion if it's done when following too closely or otherwise being aggressive. Therefore, take care if you do this — maintain a safe following distance, and only briefly flash your lights or turn signal.
There are no tolls for passenger vehicles to use the Autobahn. However, trucks must pay a per-kilometer fee which is collected electronically. Periodically along the Autobahn, you'll see large white overhead gantries with lots of cameras and sensors or blue columns with a green stripe and multiple camera windows along the side of the road; these are part of that toll collection system.
Speed limits
Despite the widespread belief of complete freedom from speed limits (and a lobbying effort that has the same influence as the American gun lobby), some speed regulations can be found on the Autobahns. In fact, about 30% of the Autobahn has permanent or dynamic speed limits ranging from 60 to 130 km/h (37-81 mph), particularly those with dangerous curves, steep grades, in urban areas, near major interchanges, in areas where noise pollution is an issue, or areas where there are specific safety concerns, and construction zones of course have reduced limits. Also, some sections now feature nighttime and wet-weather speed restrictions, and trucks are always regulated (see table below).
That said, the remaining roughly 70% of the Autobahn network has no permanent speed limit, although there is always an advisory limit of 130 km/h (81 mph). This recommendation is generally seen for what it is — an attempt by the government to cover itself without having to upset millions of Porsche and BMW owners/voters. However, if you exceed the advisory limit and are involved in an accident, you will likely be held responsible for a percentage of the damages even if you are not technically at fault.
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In some cases, vehicles may be authorized to travel faster
than the general limit for their vehicle class; these vehicles
will display a decal resembling a speed limit sign
displayed on the back of
the vehicle indicating the maximum speed it is authorized to travel. Buses are also permitted
to travel 100 km/h if they meet specific criteria set out in the traffic code.
Over 3,200 km of Autobahn now feature dynamic speed limits which are adjusted to respond to traffic, weather, and road conditions. These speed limits and conditions are indicated using a rather elaborate system of dynamic signs (see the "traffic management" section below).
One thing drivers from the US and other countries may notice is that speed zones on the Autobahn tend to be shorter and more numerous. It's not unusual to encounter a speed limit sign just a couple of kilometers after passing an "end of all restrictions" sign. The constant change in speed zones requires careful attention as many speed zones are accompanied by photo reinforcement.
That said, some sections of Autobahn do feature a posted minimum speed limit, typically for the left lane or left two lanes. These sections will be marked with signs like the one shown below.
Subsequent discussions by various groups of a possible blanket limit have met with immediate and formidable political resistance. A proposal in 2019 to implement a 120 km/h speed limit to help Germany meet its 2020 climate goals died almost immediately. The proposal for a national speed limit during coalition talks in 2021 was abandoned equally quickly as the the Green party opted to focus political capital on other policies. Polls had consistently showed more than half of Germans opposed Autobahn speed limits, but more recent polls suggest that the tide may be turning. Polling by the ADAC auto club shows that since 2020, a majority of Germans now support a blanket speed limit for the Autobahn, with 55% in favor in 2024. Still, "Freie Fahrt für freie Bürger!", or "Unrestricted driving for free citizens!", remains a rallying cry for those opposed to a speed limit. With increasing use of electric vehicles, climate justifications for a speed limit may wane, but safety concerns will still remain, although the Autobahn does have a fairly good safety record (see below).
In 2008, the federal city-state of Bremen enacted a 120 km/h speed limit on all Autobahns in that state, the first and thus far only federal state to do so. However, in practice, this only added speed limits to 6 km of Autobahn as the remainder of the 60 km of Autobahn in that state already had speed limits in place.
A national speed limit of 100 km/h (62 mph) was enacted during the energy crisis in November 1973. It was repealed less than four months later.
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Traffic
Because of Germany's robust economy and location in central
Europe, traffic on the Autobahn is generally quite heavy. Motorists log
a staggering 230 billion kilometers on the Autobahn annually, averaging
almost 50,000 vehicles per day on any given segment. As a result,
traffic jams (Stau) occur frequently on the
Autobahn, especially on Fridays, Sundays, holidays, and anytime after an accident or during
bad weather or road work. Regional traffic reports, with a
variety of monikers including Verkehrsmeldungen, Verkehrsdienst, Verkehrsfunk,
and Stauschau, are excellent and are
provided on most radio stations.
There used to be "traffic information radio" signs
along
the Autobahn to indicate the local radio
stations carrying the traffic reports for the local area, but these signs
have been removed as radios now have automated traffic report
tuning via the Traffic Program (TP) function. You will need to have a
working knowledge of German to understand the radio reports,
though. Traffic reports may use one of several terms to
describe varying levels of congestion: "Stau" is
the worst with stop-and-go conditions (usually mostly the
former). "Stockender Verkehr" indicates
the only slightly more tolerable stacking or slow-and-go type traffic, while "dichter
Verkehr" or "zähfliesender Verkehr"
denotes the annoying but often not even noteworthy heavy or sluggish but moving
traffic.
A couple of notes about traffic reports: sometimes the "traffic report" may include information that has nothing to do with traffic such as civil emergency alerts, police bulletins, etc. Also, if you have a German car and you're streaming music from your mobile device, don't be surprised if your tunes are interrupted by reports of a Stau somewhere — the European radio digital standard includes a mechanism to signal when a traffic report is being broadcast, and receiver units can be set to preempt auxiliary inputs and tune to the traffic report.
In addition to radio traffic reports, many sections of Autobahn are equipped with traffic monitoring systems and dynamic signs (see the "traffic management" section below) to warn of downstream incidents or congestion, provide a controlled reduction in the speed of traffic as it approaches the jam and suggest alternate routes. On sections without digital signs, the Autobahn police (Autobahnpolizei) generally do an excellent job of warning of congestion via portable roadside signs, signs mounted on police cars parked along the shoulder, or on banners draped from overpasses. Traffic information is also available from several other resources including the websites of radio and TV stations, auto clubs, and government agencies, as well as GPS/satnav apps, and increasingly through on-board telematics systems using the Traffic Message Channel (TMC) service.
Road work and closures
Autobahn maintenance and improvements don't escape the German
penchant for obsessiveness. As a result, work zones (Baustelle)
are frequent and widespread. The standard protocol for large
projects is a traffic shift — the lanes for both directions are
narrowed and crammed onto one side of the Autobahn so that the other
side can be worked on in its entirety. Such situations are
well-marked with "lane crossover" signs
.
Speed limits in work zones are usually greatly reduced — sometimes as low as 60 km/h. On the approach to a work zone, speed limits are usually stepped-down, for example from 100 to 80 to 60. Many work zones now use fluorescent yellow signs to enhance visibility.
In the event that a segment of Autobahn must be closed due to a crash, road
work, or other incident, pre-posted detours are ready to guide
traffic around the closure. As you exit, look for the U-numbered emergency
detour sign
on the exit ramp — this denotes
the detour route for that exit. Follow the same-numbered
route over the secondary roads and you'll eventually arrive at the next
downstream entrance ramp. If that entrance is also closed,
just follow the next sequential detour number to reach the next entrance
after that — oftentimes, there will be a sign indicating this.
However, there is one small gotcha — odd numbers
are used in one direction, even numbers in the opposite
direction. So if you're following an odd numbered route, be
sure to follow the next sequential odd number (and,
obviously the same goes for even-numbered routes). These routes can also come
in quite handy if you want to avoid an upcoming Stau.
In some areas, a new type of detour is being used in areas with long-term
construction or frequent traffic jams. These so-called "red
route" detours are marked with "red dot" (Rotempunkt) signs
and guide traffic along the most efficient route around the problematic
section.
In some construction zones, "smiley" signs like those below are posted to show drivers the distance remaining until the end of the road work. One study found that these signs reduced crashes by a third.
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Services
The Autobahn has an extensive system of around 400 roadside service areas (Raststätte, Rasthof) that are generally spaced between 30 and 60 kilometers apart, are directly accessible from the Autobahn (i.e. have their own exit and entrance ramps), and are open 24 hours a day. These facilities typically have a fuel station (Tankstelle); food service in the form of a restaurant (Restaurant), coffee shop, or snack bar (Kiosk, Imbiss); a convenience store; public telephones and Wi-Fi; and restrooms/toilets. Many locations also feature hotels, showers, playgrounds, conference rooms, electric vehicle charging, and even chapels. A map of the network of service areas and the facilities available at each is available on the web (see links below).
Note that the restrooms in most service areas now require payment for use, typically around €1. Payment can be made by cash or card in most cases. You will then receive a voucher that you can redeem at the store or restaurant for a small discount.
Most of the service areas are operated by a national franchise that operates under the names of "Tank und Rast" and "Serways". The restaurants at the service areas range from cafeteria-style and short-order grills featuring a range of cuisines to well-known fast food outlets. Prices for food and fuel at service areas are typically a bit higher than you would find in similar facilities off the Autobahn.
Signs announcing the approach of a service area give the name of the service area, the distance to it, and one or more of these pictograms indicating the services available there:
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Fuel |
Restaurant |
Snack bar |
Hotel |
Smaller parking areas (Parkplatz) are even more abundant along the Autobahn. Many of these include restrooms (WC), in which case they're then known as a Rastplatz. These are marked with signs like the one below. Unlike at the larger service areas, the restrooms at these locations typically do not require payment to use. Unfortunately, many of these WC facilities are often not well-maintained and can be quite uninviting.
The past few decades has seen the proliferation of service facilities (mainly fuel stations and fast-food restaurants) just off Autobahn exit ramps. Especially increasing in popularity are truck stops or travel centers (Autohof) which offer facilities comparable to the service areas, but usually at considerably lower prices. Facilities that meet standards similar to those of service areas are marked by signs on the Autobahn like the one below.
Signs and markings
Signage on the Autobahn is excellent. All direction signs on the Autobahn, as well as those giving directions to the Autobahn, are white on blue. Signage before interchanges is standardized both in form and placement. Overhead signs are being used increasingly more frequently and generally take on the forms shown in the various pictures below.
Autobahns bear a one, two, or three digit number with an "A" prefix (e.g. A8); however, the "A" is not shown on signs. The one and two digit numbers indicate mainline routes; three digit numbers are used for shorter routes like spurs and bypasses. Even-numbered routes generally run east-west while odd-numbered routes run north-south. The three digit route numbers generally start with the number of the "parent" Autobahn it branches from followed by an additional digit or two to make three digits total (for example, the A831 branches off of the A8; the A241 branches off of the A24). Route numbers are assigned by region; for example, the area around Munich is region 9, so most Autobahns in that area start with 9. Route markers are an oblong white and blue hexagon:
Note that the route number shields are typically located at the bottom of guide signs rather than at the top like in the US. Drivers should also be aware that, unlike in the US, directions on the Autobahn (as well as other roads) are not given using the cardinal directions (North, South, East, West), but rather by destination cities. Know what the major cities are along your route before you start out. A helpful idiosyncrasy is the tendency to list major cities on signs on connecting Autobahns that lead toward a different Autobahn that will actually take you to that city. The most important cities start appearing on signs hundreds of kilometers away.
One other peculiarity is that when several cities are listed, the farthest city is generally listed first or on top; in the US, it's usually the opposite. The last place listed is usually the name of the next exit.
Finally, you may come across names that include a one or two letter abbreviation (e.g. "S-Vaihingen" or "HH-Zentrum"); these correspond to the official license plate registration city abbreviations and are used as shorthand for the name of the city when listing a district or other destination in that city. So "S-Vaihingen would be the exit for "Stuttgart-Vaihingen" while "HH-Zentrum" denotes "Hamburg-Zentrum", or downtown Hamburg.
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Advance overhead guide signs for
Autobahn junction (Photo by BASt)
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Typical overhead advance guide sign for exit
(Photo by BASt)
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Overhead exit signs at Autobahn junction
(Photo by BASt)
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Overhead "butterfly" exit signs
(Photo by BASt)
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Here are the main signs you will encounter:
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Autobahn entrance
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Initial interchange approach sign
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Interchange advance directional sign
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Interchange number
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Interchange countdown markers
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Exit sign
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Exit sign
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Distance board
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Service area approach sign
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Truck stop
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Parking area
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Kilometer markers
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Emergency detour
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"Red route" detour
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Detour approach
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Alternate route
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End of alternate route
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End of Autobahn
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Pavement markings on the Autobahn are fairly intuitive. You can see examples of several of these in the picture below and on other pictures on this page:
- Solid white line: Marks the left edge of the road or, on the right side, marks the inside of the shoulder or the right edge of the road if there is no shoulder. Also used sometimes between traffic lanes to indicate that changing lanes is not allowed.
- Long, thin broken white lines: Separate traffic lanes.
- Short, thick broken white lines: Separate a deceleration (exit) lane or acceleration (entrance) lane from the main traffic lanes.
- V-diagonal markings: Mark the restricted area between an exit ramp and through lanes.
- Yellow markings: Used in construction zones and supersede all regular white markings.
See the signs and signals page for complete information on German road signs and markings.
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Traffic management
During the past few decades, German traffic engineers have developed extensive and sophisticated intelligent traffic management systems to manage the increasingly heavy and often congested traffic along many Autobahns and expressways. These systems consist of surveillance cameras, speed sensors, and a variety of dynamic message signs (Wechselverkehrszeichen), as well as equipment to detect and automatically warn of adverse weather including fog, rain, and ice, all connected by vast communications systems to centralized traffic monitoring and control centers (Verkehrsleitzentrale) located throughout the country.
There are two main objectives of these systems: to warn and provide systematic regulation of traffic approaching or driving through areas with congestion, construction, or hazardous weather conditions, and to divert traffic around incidents and congestion. Studies have shown that these systems have reduced accidents by as much as 30% within three years of being installed.
The first such systems were developed and tested in the mid '70s and since have been expanded to over 2,500 km of Autobahn especially near interchanges, in areas subject to frequent congestion or dangerous weather conditions, as well as in and approaching tunnels and metropolitan areas. These systems have also been installed on many non-Autobahn expressways, and the transport ministry is prioritizing their expansion.
These systems use dynamic signs that typically consists of an overhead gantry (Schilderbrücke) with a digital sign over each lane and as well as between lanes; a typical installation is shown in the photo above. Some installations also include additional signs on each side of the road. These signs display facsimiles of official traffic signs to warn of downstream conditions and implement dynamic regulations. The signs can also indicate lane closures using the standard international lane control symbols. Below are examples of these signs:
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Warning
This is usually accompanied by a worded message (see below). |
Congestion |
Road work |
Slippery road |
Watch for ice or snow |
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Speed limit |
No passing for vehicles over 3.5t |
End of speed limit |
End of no passing for vehicles over 3.5t |
End of all restrictions |
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Lane closed
You may not drive in this lane. |
Lane closed ahead
Merge in the direction indicated. This signal is typically flashing. |
Lane open
This signal is not always displayed to show open lanes when other lanes are closed. |
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In addition to the symbols above, the following word messages may be used, typically below one of the warning signs:
- UNFALL (crash)
- NEBEL (fog)
- NÄSSE (wet road)
- STAU (congestion)
- STAUGEFAHR (risk of congestion)
- GEISTERFAHRER (wrong-way driver)
In addition to indicating lanes blocked by accidents or construction, lane control signals are used in some areas to close lanes to help reduce congestion or conflicts at interchanges. For instance, if there is significantly heavier traffic merging from Autobahn 1 onto Autobahn 2, the right lane on Autobahn 2 may be closed to provide an unobstructed lane for the heavier traffic to merge into.
When reduced speed limits are displayed, it is important to comply, and you will find that the limits shown are generally very appropriate for the prevailing traffic or weather conditions. It should be noted that the speed limits and other regulations shown are enforceable, and many areas are also equipped with photo radar that is integrated with the system (and thus is aware of the current speed limit).
Usually, the speed limits shown will be the same for all lanes. However, when different speed limits are shown on a single gantry, the limit shown on each sign applies to the lane under the sign.
If all the signs on a gantry are dark when the previous gantry showed speed limits and/or restrictions, it does not indicate that those previous speed limits and restrictions no longer apply as the signs are instead likely out of order. Many times, there will be a static "Außer Betrieb" sign mounted somewhere nearby to confirm this.
In some areas, "additive routing" is utilized. In this case, the regular blue guide signs are static, but additional white signs with changeable panels and the big (and weird) orange "alternate route" arrow symbol are used. The arrow points in the recommended direction to follow along with the destination city, route number, and/or vehicle types (e.g. trucks) that the suggested alternate route applies to. An example of this is shown in the photo below and indicates that traffic headed to Deggendorf and the Munich airport is being advised to exit in 1200 meters and follow the A99 and A92.
Once you are on one of these alternate routes, continue to follow the alternate route arrow signs until you have reached your destination or have returned to the original route. Note that many times much of the alternate route is marked by permanent static signs, but a dynamic sign is used at the initial "decision point".
Other areas employ "substitutive routing" where the destinations shown on the standard blue guide signs are changed using mechanical panels to re-route traffic onto different routes, such as in the photo below.
In recent years, a new type of dynamic route guidance signage has seen widespread deployment. The "dynamic route guidance with integrated traffic information" (Dynamische Wegweiser mit integrierten Stauinformationen) signs, typically located on the approaches to interchanges, are a hybrid static and variable sign. The static signage shows the lane arrows and route numbers of the upcoming interchange. The embedded digital panels, when activated, can show both incident and congestion warnings and corresponding recommended alternate routes. The placement of the dynamic information on the sign corresponds to the static lane assignments to help facilitate quick comprehension and decision-making by drivers. These signs are also often used to provide ephemeral route guidance to stadiums and special events.
An example of this signage is below and indicates there is a 5km traffic jam ahead on the A5 past the Heidelberg interchange (37) and recommends an alternate route to Frankfurt and Darmstadt via Mannheim junction by exiting on the A6/A61 ahead.
A newer version of this sign no longer incorporates the static panels. Instead, the entire sign panel is digital and can display essentially a combined substitutive routing and integrated traffic information message. An example of this signage below shows that there is a possibility of congestion ("Staugefahr") due to road work at the Hermsdorfer Kreuz interchange, so traffic headed to Berlin and Leipzig is being guided to take the next exit for A71 toward Sangerhausen.
Like their counterparts in the US and other countries, ramp meters work by limiting the number of vehicles entering the Autobahn using a traffic signal on the entrance ramp. This helps reduce congestion on the Autobahn by spacing-out entering traffic, thus eliminating the shockwave caused by the sudden inflow of a large number of vehicles. Studies show metering increases the capacity of the through lanes by up to 5% and increases the speeds on those lanes by 10-30 km/h. They also have been shown to reduce entry-related crashes.
Ramp meters use the standard red-yellow-green traffic signals although the cycle is much faster. A sign posted on the signal will indicate how many vehicles are allowed to enter on each green signal (e.g. "1 Fahrzeug bei Grün"). The signals are typically dark when traffic is free-flowing and activated when traffic density builds. They can operate on a regular-interval cycle, variable-interval cycle based on local traffic conditions, or in coordination with the regional traffic management system.
indicate when this is permissible. Traffic managers
will first determine that the shoulder is clear of breakdowns and debris
before opening the shoulder to traffic. There is typically
a 100 km/h speed limit implemented when the shoulder is in use. Hard
shoulder running is used only for limited periods to accommodate peak traffic volume or
during incidents where capacity is reduced.
Emergencies
In the event of a breakdown, you should do everything possible to get to the
shoulder. In areas without a shoulder, try to make it to an exit, rest
area, or emergency wayside (Notbucht) if possible,
the latter of which are generally placed at regular
intervals along sections of Autobahn that don't have a shoulder and marked with "emergency wayside"
signs. Switch on your hazard warning flashers (Warnblinklicht) and put on your warning vest
(Warnweste; required to be carried in all vehicles). Assemble and place a
warning triangle (Warndreieck; also required in all vehicles) 100 to 200 meters
behind your vehicle near the right edge of the shoulder or roadway. Then proceed to
the nearest emergency phone to call for assistance (see below). Other
passengers should exit the vehicle on the side away from traffic and
wait somewhere safely off the roadway.
In the event of a crash, stop immediately, switch on your hazard warning flashers, check yourself and any passengers in your vehicle for injuries, then put on your warning vest and check for injuries in the other vehicle(s). If there are no injuries and the vehicles can be moved safely, quickly take photos of the scene, pick up any debris on the road, then move the vehicles to the shoulder or nearest emergency wayside, rest area, or exit, and place a warning triangle 100 to 200 meters behind the scene. If there are injuries or the vehicles are too damaged to be moved, secure the crash site with a warning triangle, send someone to contact emergency services using an emergency phone (see below), and tend to any injuries. All uninjured people (except those attending to the injured) should get off the roadway.
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Autobahn emergency phone
(Photo from pxfuel)
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Roadside post with arrow pointing direction
to nearest emergency phone (Photo by Brian Purcell)
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The direction to the nearest phone is indicated by a black arrowhead atop the black and white roadside reflector posts. In tunnels, emergency phones are located in refuge rooms every 100-200 meters. When trekking to a phone, be sure to put on your warning vest, and try to walk behind the guard rail as much as possible.
There are two varieties of emergency phones in use: those with a cover and those without. If there is a cover, lift it up all the way. Inside, you will find a loudspeaker and two buttons: a yellow button with a wrench symbol for reporting a breakdown, and a red button with a red cross symbol to report an accident. Press the appropriate button and wait for the call taker to answer. There are still some older phones in use that don't have the buttons; in this case, just wait for the call taker to answer after lifting the cover. On phones without a cover, the loudspeaker and buttons will be visible externally.
Regardless of which button you press, the call will go to the same call center in Hamburg. However, pressing the red button prioritizes the call and alerts the call taker that emergency services will be needed.
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Emergency phone with cover
(Photo by Brian Purcell))
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Emergency phone without cover
(Photo by Brian Purcell)
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The exact location of the phone is usually transmitted to the call center automatically when your call is connected. However, be prepared to give the call taker the kilometer location or box number (Notrufsäulen-Nr.) of the phone as indicated on a label on the inside of the cover or near the loudspeaker, as well as your direction of travel.
Speak into the microphone located next to the buttons. An English-speaking call taker is always available; ask for one if you feel this situation is not the best time to practice your German.
If you are reporting a crash, the call taker will connect you to the nearest police or emergency services dispatcher. Be prepared to report the number of vehicles involved, if there are any injuries and their severity, and if there is a fire or fuel spill.
For breakdowns, the call taker will need information such as the location of your vehicle; your vehicle's description and/or license plate number; insurance, auto club, or rental car details; and the nature of the problem. They will then contact the appropriate service such as the "Yellow Angels" of the ADAC or AvD auto club, or a nearby affiliated garage or tow truck service.
After completing the call, carefully return to your vehicle or the crash scene and wait for help.
As an alternative to using an emergency phone, you can reach the Autobahn emergency call center via mobile phone at 0800‑6683‑663, or "0800‑NOTFON‑D" ("NOTFON" for "emergency phone" and"D" for "Deutschland") for breakdown assistance. For crashes, dial 112 for the emergency services.
Roadside assistance for breakdowns is free, but you'll likely have to pay for any needed parts. If you need to be towed, there is no charge to tow the vehicle off of the Autobahn to the next exit, but you will have to pay for towing beyond that. If you're driving a rental car, assistance may be covered by the rental agency — check your rental agreement.
In the event of a crash, a cavalry of emergency aid will descend on you quite quickly, sometimes arriving even before you have completed the call and returned to the scene. Police, fire service, ambulances, emergency doctors, and tow trucks are all typically dispatched to Autobahn crashes. A medical evacuation helicopter is also always available if needed.
Other sites of interest
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The German Way (by Hyde Flippo) https://www.german-way.com/ |
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German Autobahn Page (by Henning Maruhn) https://www.autobahn-online.de |
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Autobahn Atlas (by Patrick Scholl) http://www.autobahnatlas-online.de |
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Autobahn GmbH (Corporation that manages and maintains the Autobahn network) https://www.autobahn.de/ |
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Autobahn service area guide https://www.raststaetten.de/ |
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German Federal Transport Ministry https://www.bmvi.de/ |
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German Federal Highway Research Institute https://www.bast.de/ |