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DRIVING

Autumn holidays: Where can motorists in Germany expect traffic jams?

Almost of of Germany's 16 states are currently on their autumn holidays, meaning drivers can expect some very full roads. Here's what to know, whether you're planning a holiday or just a day trip.

Published: 16 October 2023 17:35 CEST
Updated: 17 October 2023 08:45 CEST
Autumn holidays: Where can motorists in Germany expect traffic jams?
A traffic jam near Cologne at the end of September. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Oliver Berg

Herbstferien (autumn holidays) started on Monday – or are continuing – for the German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein.

On Friday they’ll begin in the states of Hesse, Berlin, Brandenburg and Saarland.

That means that motorists can a lot of traffic this week and especially upcoming weekend, when the holidays – which see the closure of schools in Germany – are either starting or ending. 

The ADAC, Germany’s largest driving association, broke down where drivers can reckon with the biggest traffic jams, delays and road closures over the holidays.

What should drivers be the most aware of?

A lot of the traffic will be coming and going to the south and the middle of the Netherlands, where the holidays are ending this weekend, said ADAC.

Drivers should also brace themselves for heavy traffic on the way to or from the hiking regions of the Alps and low mountain ranges as well as the North Sea and Baltic Sea.

The danger of traffic jams is greatest around road works and during rush hour. 

In accordance with the weather, which has taken a frosty turn around Germany, drivers should plan for weather-related obstructions on the entire road network. Fog, in particular, can considerably reduce visibility.

READ ALSO: Germany hit by floods as October heat turns into icy spells

Trips to higher altitudes in the Alps should no longer be undertaken without winter tyres.

But even at lower altitudes, winter storms are no longer a rarity at this time of year.

The following routes are set to be the most affected (in both directions):

  • Highways to and from the North and Baltic Sea
  • All areas in and around Hamburg, Berlin und München
  • A1 Lübeck – Hamburg – Bremen – Dortmund
  • A3 Würzburg – Nuremburg – Passau
  • A4 Erfurt – Dresden – Görlitz
  • A5 Hattenbacher Dreieck (Triangle) – Karlsruhe – Basel
  • A7 Hamburg – Flensburg
  • A7 Hanover – Würzburg – Ulm – Füssen/Reutte
  • A8 Stuttgart – Munich – Salzburg
  • A9 Berlin – Nuremberg – Munich
  • A10 Berliner Ring
  • A24 Hamburg – Berlin
  • A61 Ludwigshafen – Koblenz – Mönchengladbach
  • A93 Inntaldreieck – Kufstein
  • A95/B2 Munich – Garmisch-Partenkirchen
  • A99 Munich bypass

There are currently about 1,350 motorway construction sites in Germany. It can sometimes take longer there, especially with heavy traffic. Some roadworks also require full closures.

Short-term motorway closures:

A23 Hamburg towards Heide between Tornesch and Elmshorn from Friday, October 20th at 8:30 pm until Monday, October 23rd at 5 am.

A43 Recklinghausen towards Wuppertal between Sprockhövel and Kreuz Wuppertal-Nord on Sunday, October 22nd, from 6 to 10 am.

A44 Düsseldorf direction Mönchengladbach between Krefeld-Fichtenhain and Mönchengladbach-Ost from Friday, October 20th at 8 pm to Monday, October 23rd at 5 am.

A46 Wuppertal towards Düsseldorf between the end of the A46 extension and the Wuppertal-Nord junction on Sunday, October 22nd, from 6 am to 10 am.

A46 Düsseldorf direction Wuppertal between Wuppertal-Oberbarmen and Kreuz Wuppertal-Nord on Sunday, October 22nd, from 6 am to 10 am.

A 130km per hour speed limit sign on Germany's Autobahn.

A 130km per hour speed limit sign on Germany’s Autobahn. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Thomas Frey

A73 Bamberg direction Nuremberg between Hirschaid and Forchheim-Nord from 6 pm on Saturday, October 21st, to 12 am on Sunday, October 22nd

A555 Bonn direction Cologne between Wesseling and Rodenkirchen from Friday, October 20th at 9 pm to Monday, October 23rd at 5 am

A560 Sankt Augustin direction Hennef between Dreieck Sankt Augustin-West and Sankt Augustin from Wednesday October 18th at 8 pm to Saturday, October 21st at 5 am, daily between 8 pm and 5 am

Congestion forecast for Brenner, Tauern, Gotthard

Traffic in neighbouring countries will also come to a standstill at times, especially the routes to mountain destinations.

There is also a high probability of traffic congestion on the Austrian Westautobahn as well as on the Tauern, Fernpass, Brenner, Rhine Valley and Gotthard routes. Travel traffic will be slowed down around numerous construction sites.

On the Austrian Tauern motorway between Golling and Pfarrwerfen, the Ofenau and Hiefler tunnels and the Werfen tunnel chain are being renovated. Tunnels will be closed alternately in each direction. 

The traffic will be routed in one lane in the free tubes in two-way traffic. Drivers will have to allow for significantly longer journey times. There is also a high risk of traffic jams on the entire Austrian Brenner motorway due to several road works including lane closures.

Due to the closure of the Gotthard railway tunnel, the volume of traffic on the car route through the Gotthard tunnel could increase and cause additional traffic jams

Waiting times possible at the border

Due to increased border checks, there could be waiting times at the border.

The three motorway border crossings Suben (A3 Linz – Passau), Walserberg (A8 Salzburg – Munich) and Kiefersfelden (A93 Kufstein – Rosenheim) are particularly affected.

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For members

DRIVING

EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

The EU has agreed to extend the number of driving offences for which motorists from other member states can be fined for and to make it easier for authorities to chase up the fines and make foreign drivers pay.

Published: 13 May 2024 17:28 CEST
EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

In the last voting session of this term, in April, the European Parliament passed new rules to ensure drivers who breach local traffic rules in another EU member state are found and fined.

The cross-border enforcement (CBE) directive was first adopted in 2015 after it was found that non-resident drivers were more likely to commit speeding offences. The European Commission estimated that in 2008, foreign drivers accounted for about 5 percent of road traffic in the EU but committed around 15 percent of speeding offences.

The directive partially improved the situation, but according to the Commission 40 percent of traffic violations committed in other EU countries are still unpunished “because the offender is not identified or because the fine is not enforced”.

In March 2023, the Commission therefore proposed updating existing measures.

New rules extend the type of offences that will trigger assistance from another member state and seek to improve collaboration among national authorities to identify and fine offenders.

The European Parliament and Council agreed in March on the final text of the directive, which is now being formally approved by the two institutions.

André Sobczak, Secretary-General at Eurocities, a group representing European cities in Brussels, said: “While the final outcome of the discussions is not ideal, we are pleased that EU policymakers have at least put the issue of the enforcement of local traffic rules on foreign vehicles on the table. As we approach an election year, I believe such a practical example can demonstrate why a European approach is necessary to address local issues.”

Which traffic offences are covered?

The previous directive covered eight driving misconducts that would require member states to cooperate: speeding, not wearing seat belts, failing to stop at a red traffic light, drink-driving, driving under the effect of drugs, not wearing a helmet (motorcycles / scooters), using a forbidden lane and using a mobile phone or other communication devices while driving.

The Commission proposed to add to the list not keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front, dangerous overtaking, dangerous parking, crossing one or more solid white lines, driving the wrong way down a one way street, not respecting the rules on “emergency corridors” (a clear lane intended for priority vehicles), and using an overloaded vehicle.

The Parliament and Council agreed to these and added more offences: not giving way to emergency service vehicles, not respecting access restrictions or rules at a rail crossings, as well as hit-and-run offences.

Despite calls from European cities, the new directive does not cover offences related to foreign drivers avoiding congestion charges or low emission zones. In such cases, information about vehicle registration can only be shared among countries with bilateral agreements.

Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General at POLIS, a network of cities and regions working on urban transport, called on the next European Commission to take other local traffic offences, such as breaches of low emission zones, “fully at heart”.

Collaboration among national authorities

For the traffic violations covered by the directive, EU countries have to help each other to find the liable driver. The new directive further clarifies how.

Member states will have to use the European vehicle and driving licence information system (Eucaris) to get the data of the offender.

National authorities will have 11 months from the date of the violation to issue the fine to a vehicle from another EU member state. However, they will not have to resort to agencies or private entities to collect the fine. This was requested by the European Parliament to avoid scams or leaks of personal data.

Authorities in the country of the offender will have to reply to requests from another EU member state within two months.

When the amount of the fine is more than €70, and all options to have it paid have been exhausted, the member state where the violation occurred can ask the country of the offender to take over the collection.

The person concerned will be able to request follow-up documents in a different official EU language.

When will the new rules will be enforced?

Now that the EU Parliament has passed the law, the EU Council has to do the same, although there is no date set for when that will happen. Once the directive is adopted, EU countries will have 30 months to prepare for implementation.

Last year the Commission also proposed a new directive on driving licenses, but negotiations on the final text of this file will only take place after the European elections.

This article has been produced in collaboration with Europe Street news.

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