Driving in Germany

Welcome back to our series about driving in Germany. This week we’ll focus on safely driving during fall.

Country roads, take me home…

Germany has wonderful landscapes and picturesque roads that lead to the small villages and towns. We all want to arrive safely at home.  But, the days are getting shorter, leaves are turning red and yellow, rain and fog is on its way.

Rain, fallen leaves and fog may lead to slippery road conditions and pedestrians or bikers can easily be overlooked.

To avoid tragic accidents, we have put together a few tips to make driving safer:

• Have an overview – make sure your headlights and windows are clear at all times.
• Drive carefully and slowly depending on the situation.
• Winter tires are also useful in autumn, get a head start and mount them early.
• Be aware of wild animals crossing. Typically, deer, fox and wild boar tend to cross roads in early evening around sunset or during early morning fog, especially in woody areas.
• If it is stormy, avoid parking under trees, as falling branches may damage your car.
• Last but not least, as a pedestrian or biker, wear colorful clothes with reflectors to ensure that you are seen by drivers.

Next week, we’ll discuss what to consider on Germany’s roads when encountering an intersection and the German “right before left” rule.