4 Important Rules of the Autobahn.

The most important rule on the German Autobahn is: No matter how fast you drive yourself, there is always someone else who drives faster than you! Allzeit gute Fahrt und Grüße aus Deutschland

I have an urgent piece of Autobahn advice that I picked up while in Germany. This is especially important for newbies. It does not take very long to get used to the higher speeds. When you get to your exit, pay close attention to your speedometer. You might be moving a lot faster than you think you are when you hit that exit ramp.

But many, unfortunately, ignore the "Rechtsfahrgebot" rule and constantly drive in the middle, regardless of whether the right is clear or not. This should be much more penalized, in my opinion.

Driving on the German Autobahn is so chill despite the average speed being much higher than the rest of the countries in Europe. German people drive very well.

Just a word of advise. Don't switch multiple lanes at once, like at 4:57. Other drivers don't expect that. Instead, change one lane, indicate again, check over your shoulder and mirrors again, and then change the second lane. And if you have to slow down doing so, then so be it. That's how we stay safe and don't surprise other drivers who might as well go 200km/h.

About those "digital traffic lights": I was one of the team members at Siemens in the 90s who programmed the standard used at Siemens for these in the early 90s (that project was the 38 km of the A9 going into Munich - and the needed traffic redirection for traffic jams). The system can do much more than just set speed limits - it also show signs for traffic jams, fog conditions, and can even direct people around a traffic jam on the Autobahn (this is the so-called "Wechselwegweisung"), which included some more digital signs on some Bundesstrassen in the area, too. The sensors and the logic behind the system was really amazing. While we were still in the last stage of the trial phase (which meant that the signs were actually already uncovered and as such valid, just a couple of months before the official "opening"), there was an accident somewhere on the A9 while I was down there in Munich in the Autobahnmeisterei headquarters. Since we programmers were in the headquarters to check if everything was working at that time, we saw that suddenly a part of the autobahn was getting a so called "speed-funnel" (which means that the signs were activated, and the speed was going down with each sign further down the road closer to the accident, so the closest ones to the accident would show "30", the next ones "50", the next ones "70" or "90", and finally the ones which showed "110" - at least I think that were the numbers), and that the traffic jam signs came on. Just 3 minutes after the system already had activated all these measures, the police headquarter called and asked us to please activate such a speed-funnel because there was an accident - they were quite surprised when we told them that the system already reacted, and that we were actually able to give them the nearly exact position of the accident (I think it was accurate to about 200m-300m or so, I cannot recall the exact distance between our sensors in the autobahn). In the headquarters, you basically had a graphical view (vector based, so zoomable) like Google maps did a decade or so later with their traffic display, so you always had a colour coded view of the traffic on thos 38 km (and the streets used for traffic jam detours). That system became the standard for "Verkehrsleitsysteme" from Siemens for at least a decade (no idea if it is still used as a basis for new systems, I changed to another company in 1999, but I wouldn't be surprised, since it was based on X11/Unix, not some windows garbage, and was still getting installed at that time all over Germany - an updated version, of course ;-) ).

Please talk about the "Rettungsgasse" ! It can save lives !

First off: nicely done and good video. 3:40 As you can see, many Germans fail to execute the Rechtsfahrgebot as well. They SHOULD stick to it, but they don't. They had more than enough space and time to switch to the right lane, but didn't. Not really terrible and not worthy of road rage on a three lane Autobahn with enough room to pass. But on a two lane Autobahn left lane hoggers really get my dander up. I do what you did at 4:00 as well. I pull up to their rear bumper, but one lane to the right, so I don't endanger them. Then I let myself fall back very noticeably (not brake-checking, but slowing down significantly), giving them more than enough room to change lanes. If they don't do it soonish, I repeat that maneuver two more times. If they still don't get it, I pass them, with more than enough room, switch to their lanes, and demonstrably set my right blinker for a long time, then change lanes to the right again. Yeah, yeah, I know, stupid Oberlehrer that I am. :D

when merging on the freeway, DO NOT, by any chance, do not stop on the ramp. If necessary (you don't have enough speed or need to wait for a truck to pass), keep going on the emergency lane (this would only be the case if you fkd up by not turning the blinker early so others are aware of you or if you didn't accelerate). I've driven vans on the autobahn, old hatchbacks that can't do more than 120kmh and nice cars that can comfortably cruise at 230kmh, be aware of the car you're driving and the most important parts would be to always check the mirrors and the cars in front (not just the first, look 3 or more cars ahead of you to spot break lights or warning blinkers for traffic jams so you can break or reduce speed in time) and always do your best to not inconvenience other drivers (going for an overtake when there's clearly a faster car approaching from the rear, narrowly merging in front of trucks triggering their emergency breaking systems, acting like a macho because you have a fast car, road raging etc.). Try not to cut across 2 lanes at once, and always use blinkers to signal your intent (blinking doesn't give you the right to switch lanes, it just gives others an information that you would like to move left or right, switching can only be done when safe to do so). When passing, always accelerate, do not keep the same speed since you will just inconvenience traffic, do not go to pass someone if there is clearly a faster car behind you. If there's someone faster than you approaching in the left lane and you're in the left lane overtaking a row of cars in the middle lane, it is better for you to slow down, merge into the middle lane, let him pass and resume the passing once he's clear. Be very concentrated when driving on the autobahn (if you need to do something meticulous, it's best to pull up in a rest stop and do it there then move on), driving fast comes with heavy responsibility, be very aware of all signs even all directional signs and be aware of all other participants in traffic (trucks, vans, trailers) and know what rules apply for them as well so you're able to accommodate for how they need to drive. In case of a traffic jam, always do the Rettungsgasse (left lane cars stay as close left to the median as possible, middle and right lane cars and trucks go on the emergency stop lane and the right most lane, this is to leave a clear corridor in the middle for emergency vehicles to pass). Look at how others are driving around you, if everyone is driving fast but your keeping 80 after passing a construction zone, you might have missed the sign nullifying that speed limit. Some signs have hour intervals when they apply (like noise speed limits around cities being between 22pm and 6am), some signs apply only to some lanes or to roads that continue after driving off the autobahn (read bellow the signs if there are arrows), in other words be aware and informed of all driving signs. Driving without a purpose is actually forbidden (environmental rules, but it's hard to check). Driving with the flow of traffic gets you to your destination fast and on time. Driving fast and irresponsible will not get you to your destination faster, it will only give your family extra costs to buy a coffin. These are just some of the things and reasons why driving school and getting your license is more expensive and more strict in Germany and other European countries as well. There are countless other driving do's and dont's regarding city driving and other roads as well.

As a German, I can't resist to give further unasked lectures: Keep a distance to cars before you on the same lane. It's half the km/h speed in meters, i.e. if you are driving 140 km/h, you have to stay 70 meters away from the car before you. If somebody enters your lane before you at a shorter distance, you have 5 or 10 seconds to fix that. To have an idea about the distance, the white poles to the right of the street are 50 meters away from each other. If you violate that rule (which can happen quite easily on a crowded autobahn), you will receive a fine and an infraction point which last for a year or two if no further ones are collected. Too many infraction points --> license revoked for a few months. Passing somebody at the right is regarded as a severe violation of traffic rules and you will lose your license for a few weeks or months. Exception: If the traffic situation doesn't allow otherwise, like when it's very crowded. No exception: Some idiot is blocking the left lane, so you cannot pass him. It's advised not to pass cars at a much higher speed (by more than 30 km/h, I think) because it's very startling for the others. It's not explicitely forbidden, but if you do so and it leads to an accident, you are regarded as partially being in fault of the consequences, even if it was the action of the other one that led to the accident.

The best car to pick is obviously the most sporty looking Ferrari you can find, so you can occupy the right lane at a solid 120kph for the entire drive.

I remember driving at 240 km/h with my Dad in a purble metallic Ro 80 in the mid 70s. That was fantastic.

Heh I am Portuguese living in Germany. In my country speed limits at 120 km/h, so that has been my standard my while life. I ride motorcycle now, and even though my bike is not that super fast bike, it maxes out at 200 km/h. One time I had a super fun feeling. Was doing 200 on the left lane, and for some reason I decided to go to the right lane and drive slower. So I did and rode the rest of the journey at 150 on the right lane, realizing that even though I was one of the "slow vehicles" on the German Autobahn, I was riding faster than the fast cars in Portuguese highways!

I lived and worked in Germany for 17 years, from 1957 to 1974. My home office was in Koeln, but my major customers were either in Hamburg (Lufthansa) or in the Muenchen area (BMW Aircraft Engines, MBB aircraft) I had a 220 Mercedes as a company car; and my Porsche 356B convertible. I'd get on the Autobahn, get the Porsche up to a comfortable 160 /170 kmH and cruise at that speed, for hours, to my destinations. My favorite rental cars were BMWs, that also cruised effortlessly at those speeds.

0:10 Why you run the STOP sign? They are the same in the US ans you should have known it!

Maybe explain that when causing an accident above the adviced 130km/h, you are always liable, even when not at fault. The liability increases the futher you exceed the advisory. Let me add; my top experience was Tilburg > Korbach in 3 hours. (310km). Top speed: 236 km/h. That is including all landstrasse and inner city travel and abiding the 130km speedlimit in the Netherlands. Cruised about 200km/h from Dortmund until Diemelstadt with alomost no traffic.

That white car is a "Mittelspurschleicher"... you often have such mor** that block traffic flow by simply staying on the middle lane forever. I hate those... As a German I'm a regular Autobahn user. In some years I've travelled more then 40,000 km only on Autobahn. The fasted I went on the Autobahn is about the classic 250 km/h with my BMW. Most cars are technical blocked to go any faster. Only with some special cars with "offener Endgeschwindigkeit" you can go faster.

I have never driven in US highways, however YT is providing a glimpse of American driving routine and skills. I don't wish to drive on the American highways, it seems like chaos for my European taste. Common aspects for the US driver that I noted: no respect for the rules and others , self awareness is close to zero, lack of common sense is wide and the self entitlement that conducts to a very special habit like "brake check" (is unheard-of on European roads, except UK). Maybe that is because the driving license is obtain in US way too easy and the driving lessons are done with parents mostly and not on a proper driving school.

I really enjoyed the scenery, Tom . . . . thanks for the ride ! :-)

Questions? What would you like to see next about cars/driving in Germany/Europe? Write into the comment section below! Thanks so much for joining me on this excursion on the Bavarian Autobahn and country roads.