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Brit in critical condition after driving on wrong side of road

A British man is in life-threatening condition in southwest Germany after he caused an accident by mistakenly driving on the left side of the road.

Brit in critical condition after driving on wrong side of road
Firefighters examine the wrecked British car. Photo: Polizei Adenau.

The 38-year-old confused the left and right lanes on the main road near Kaltenborn in Rhineland-Palatinate, police said on Friday morning.

As he accelerated along the B412 towards the famous Nürburgring racing track, another driver encountered him heading in the other direction.

Although the other driver tried to evade the oncoming car, the two smashed into one another head-on.

Firefighters freed the British man from the wreck and he was flown to hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other driver was only slightly hurt but was also brought to hospital.

The Nürburgring – nicknamed the “Green Hell” – currently has several events planned for the weekend which started on Thursday for the public holiday, including a Drift Cup, “superbike” event and tourist driving days.

“The Nürburgring is known internationally. We've got visitors from all over Europe this weekend and an increased number of accidents,” a local police spokesman told The Local.

He added that drivers from the UK and Asian countries that drive on the left are more often involved in accidents caused by confusing lanes.

SEE ALSO: Spectator killed in Nürburgring crash

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DRIVING

What you should do if you lose your driver’s licence in Germany

Non-EU nationals who live in Germany can often exchange their old licences for German ones. But what do you do if you happen to lose your German licence - or if it gets stolen? Here's a step-by-step guide.

What you should do if you lose your driver's licence in Germany

Losing an important document can be a nightmare scenario for foreigners in Germany – especially if it’s the one you rely on to get around. So if you search for your driver’s licence one day and suddenly realise it’s missing, you may feel the urge to panic. 

Luckily, there’s a two-step process to follow to get a replacement and ensure nobody else can misuse your licence in the meantime. However, German law requires you to act quickly.

Call the lost and found and/or file a police report

If your driver’s licence is lost or stolen in Germany, you’re required to let the police know as soon as possible. You can do this at any police station in Germany. 

There may be one place you should try first though before going straight to the police.

If you think your licence may simply have been misplaced, rather than stolen, you can call your local Fundbüro – which deals with lost property – to see if someone has returned it. Many of these are at local city halls, while many public transport companies have their own. Deutsche Bahn also runs one of these for things that are lost on long-distance trains in Germany.

If you still can’t find it, whether you’ve lost your licence or it’s been stolen, you’re required to file a police report. 

Once you’ve filed the report, the police will give you a confirmation letter. You can use this to apply for a replacement licence.

READ ALSO: How to get a German driver’s licence as a third-country national

Get in touch with the traffic office

Once you’ve filed a police report, you’ll need to get in touch with your local Fahrerlaubnisbehörde – or “traffic licencing authority” – to get a replacement licence. In Berlin, for example, you can go online and book an appointment for this.

You’ll need to bring a few documents with for your appointment to get a replacement licence. These include a biometric passport photo, the loss or theft report from the police, and a piece of legal ID. You’ll also need to pay a fee – which can vary depending on your local authority.

READ ALSO: What you should do if you lose your residence permit in Germany

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