Discussion
Just back from germany (alas not in the 944), I just put tape over the relevant parts of the lights so as not to dazzle oncoming drivers, I don't usually bother but this time I was driving at night.
I also took a £2.99 flourescent waistcoat in case of roadside breakdowns (needed in france, not 100% about getmany),and a warning triangle and first aid kit (which you're supposed to have).
BTW, roads are excellent and drivers much more polite, cameras few and far between (in the south anyway)
Andy.
I also took a £2.99 flourescent waistcoat in case of roadside breakdowns (needed in france, not 100% about getmany),and a warning triangle and first aid kit (which you're supposed to have).
BTW, roads are excellent and drivers much more polite, cameras few and far between (in the south anyway)
Andy.
There is a high probability that, so long as your driving does not stand out from the crowd, you won't get stopped by anyone.
I've driven many thousands of miles in Germany in RHD cars and never been taken to task for lack of light deflectors or country identification.
If you do get stopped randomly (and this happens more often in Germany than in UK), they will want to see your V5, insurance cover note, warning triangle and first aid kit. They might even ask about your spare bulbs, although this has not happened to me.
If you're on the Autobahn for the first time, take a while to study the lane discipline, as well as how quickly they will move across from slow lane to fast one. Also don't be surprised if the dot that you saw in your mirror five seconds ago is now an Audi estate a metre off your rear bumper at 180kph.
If you're going down the A3 from Koln to F'furt, note that there is a very long downhill stretch near Limburg, three lanes wide, on which the speed limit in the right lane really is 40 kph, and 100 kph in the centre and left lanes. There are two sets of speed cameras in gantries across the highway, so take care.
Also, if you want to put your foot down, on the south side of F'furt, on the A5 next to the airport, there is a four-lane, derestricted stretch severl miles long. If the traffic and weather permit, you can safely max any car there.
I've driven many thousands of miles in Germany in RHD cars and never been taken to task for lack of light deflectors or country identification.
If you do get stopped randomly (and this happens more often in Germany than in UK), they will want to see your V5, insurance cover note, warning triangle and first aid kit. They might even ask about your spare bulbs, although this has not happened to me.
If you're on the Autobahn for the first time, take a while to study the lane discipline, as well as how quickly they will move across from slow lane to fast one. Also don't be surprised if the dot that you saw in your mirror five seconds ago is now an Audi estate a metre off your rear bumper at 180kph.
If you're going down the A3 from Koln to F'furt, note that there is a very long downhill stretch near Limburg, three lanes wide, on which the speed limit in the right lane really is 40 kph, and 100 kph in the centre and left lanes. There are two sets of speed cameras in gantries across the highway, so take care.
Also, if you want to put your foot down, on the south side of F'furt, on the A5 next to the airport, there is a four-lane, derestricted stretch severl miles long. If the traffic and weather permit, you can safely max any car there.
silverS2 said:
I also took a £2.99 flourescent waistcoat in case of roadside breakdowns (needed in france, not 100% about getmany)
As of a year ago it was only mandatory in Spain, with Italy making noises that they were going to do the same.
You may well be right - I just want to be sure.
flemke said:
silverS2 said:
I also took a £2.99 flourescent waistcoat in case of roadside breakdowns (needed in france, not 100% about getmany)
As of a year ago it was only mandatory in Spain, with Italy making noises that they were going to do the same.
You may well be right - I just want to be sure.
As of now carrying a reflective waistcoat is only mandatory in commercial vehicles in Germany - so as long as you are making the trip in your private car you don't need one (yet).
If you are on the autobhan you are also required to carry at least 5L of spare fuel incase you run out. I lived in Fft for three years and found this out when i ran out of fuel on the way to work one morning and ended up paying 60 DEM to the nice polizie.
If you want a good drive, I really recommend leaving the UK really early in the morning (3 or 4am), this way you get into Germany quite early and the roads are great.
If you want a good drive, I really recommend leaving the UK really early in the morning (3 or 4am), this way you get into Germany quite early and the roads are great.
i don't think anyone expects you to carry a 5l jerrycan (no pun intended) of fuel, but it is an offence to run out of fuel on the autobahn
there are fuel stations pretty much every 40km or less on most of the network though, and off-motorway stations with big tall signs so you know they are there. a sign at each service station tells you the distance to the next, too
the 120 and 100 limited sections on the a3 are fairly regularly patrolled/camera'ed too, do no more than 20 kmh over and you shouldn't be stopped though
edit: V-power of course!
edit again: good tread on your tyres is a must, there could be heavy rain at any time and the autobahns hold a lot of water on the surface
there are fuel stations pretty much every 40km or less on most of the network though, and off-motorway stations with big tall signs so you know they are there. a sign at each service station tells you the distance to the next, too
the 120 and 100 limited sections on the a3 are fairly regularly patrolled/camera'ed too, do no more than 20 kmh over and you shouldn't be stopped though
edit: V-power of course!
edit again: good tread on your tyres is a must, there could be heavy rain at any time and the autobahns hold a lot of water on the surface
Edited by hugoagogo on Monday 9th October 16:18
if you havent been here already you may wish to visit the AA website
www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/compulsory_equipment.html
lots of useful stuff here
www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/compulsory_equipment.html
lots of useful stuff here
flemke said:
silverS2 said:
I also took a £2.99 flourescent waistcoat in case of roadside breakdowns (needed in france, not 100% about getmany)
As of a year ago it was only mandatory in Spain, with Italy making noises that they were going to do the same.
You may well be right - I just want to be sure.
YOu need the reflective jacket also in Austria now, also you must drive with your lights on during daylight in Austria. Don't forget to also carry a first aid kit and a breakdown triangle!
flemke said:
If you do get stopped randomly (and this happens more often in Germany than in UK), they will want to see your V5, insurance cover note, warning triangle and first aid kit. They might even ask about your spare bulbs, although this has not happened to me.
silver993tt said:
flemke said:
silverS2 said:
I also took a £2.99 flourescent waistcoat in case of roadside breakdowns (needed in france, not 100% about getmany)
As of a year ago it was only mandatory in Spain, with Italy making noises that they were going to do the same.
You may well be right - I just want to be sure.
YOu need the reflective jacket also in Austria now, also you must drive with your lights on during daylight in Austria. Don't forget to also carry a first aid kit and a breakdown triangle!
Hi-Vis in now a requirement in Italy along with headlights on at all times when out of town.
flemke said:
There is a high probability that, so long as your driving does not stand out from the crowd, you won't get stopped by anyone.
I've driven many thousands of miles in Germany in RHD cars and never been taken to task for lack of light deflectors or country identification.
If you do get stopped randomly (and this happens more often in Germany than in UK), they will want to see your V5, insurance cover note, warning triangle and first aid kit. They might even ask about your spare bulbs, although this has not happened to me.
If you're on the Autobahn for the first time, take a while to study the lane discipline, as well as how quickly they will move across from slow lane to fast one. Also don't be surprised if the dot that you saw in your mirror five seconds ago is now an Audi estate a metre off your rear bumper at 180kph.
If you're going down the A3 from Koln to F'furt, note that there is a very long downhill stretch near Limburg, three lanes wide, on which the speed limit in the right lane really is 40 kph, and 100 kph in the centre and left lanes. There are two sets of speed cameras in gantries across the highway, so take care.
Also, if you want to put your foot down, on the south side of F'furt, on the A5 next to the airport, there is a four-lane, derestricted stretch severl miles long. If the traffic and weather permit, you can safely max any car there.
I've driven many thousands of miles in Germany in RHD cars and never been taken to task for lack of light deflectors or country identification.
If you do get stopped randomly (and this happens more often in Germany than in UK), they will want to see your V5, insurance cover note, warning triangle and first aid kit. They might even ask about your spare bulbs, although this has not happened to me.
If you're on the Autobahn for the first time, take a while to study the lane discipline, as well as how quickly they will move across from slow lane to fast one. Also don't be surprised if the dot that you saw in your mirror five seconds ago is now an Audi estate a metre off your rear bumper at 180kph.
If you're going down the A3 from Koln to F'furt, note that there is a very long downhill stretch near Limburg, three lanes wide, on which the speed limit in the right lane really is 40 kph, and 100 kph in the centre and left lanes. There are two sets of speed cameras in gantries across the highway, so take care.
Also, if you want to put your foot down, on the south side of F'furt, on the A5 next to the airport, there is a four-lane, derestricted stretch severl miles long. If the traffic and weather permit, you can safely max any car there.
Interesting advice especially as I am going to Germany in a couple of weeks for the first time.
Out of interest, is there a road sign for the de-restricted zones? (Not that I will be able to go that fast in a Merc A Class hire car)
woogie said:
Hi all,
I am travelling to Frankfurt this Thursday in my car and wondered if I needed to have the light deflectors or will I get away with it as it's daytime driving ? Can you advise if I need anything else (bar insurance).
cheers
I am travelling to Frankfurt this Thursday in my car and wondered if I needed to have the light deflectors or will I get away with it as it's daytime driving ? Can you advise if I need anything else (bar insurance).
cheers
I had the pleasure of going Hook of Holland> Bad Harzburg > Southern France this summer in my lowly 924S. Saw 135 indicated on the speedo, which probably means I was doing 110 ;-)
1) I'd get RAC/anybody else European cover. My clutch went somewhere near Venlo
2) On the autobahn, watch out for tightening corners/gradients, they can be a lot wilder than what we have in UK. And watch out for Belgians/Poles drifting into your lane when you're closing at speed. They are excempt from Autobahn discipline.
Edited by Tam Lin on Monday 9th October 17:02
flemke said:
sleep envy said:
Hi-Vis in now a requirement in Italy along with headlights on at all times when out of town.
Are you effing serious?
Pathetic. I'm sure the Italian bikers are appreciative.
yep - there's a crackdown on driving standards over there at the moment although no one is taking the blindest bit of notice
Edited by sleep envy on Monday 9th October 16:57
968csreading said:
Out of interest, is there a road sign for the de-restricted zones? (Not that I will be able to go that fast in a Merc A Class hire car)
They use the same derestriction sign on A-roads and on the A'bahn.
It's five narrow diagonal black lines across a white circle. The same basic idea as is used in the UK.
Sometimes there will be nothing else on the circle, but other times, say if the A'bahn limit is changing from 130 to DR, the five lines will be superimposed on the 130.
When you see that sign but you are NOT on the A'bahn, the national A-road limit applies. Only on the A'bahn are there sections where there is no limit.
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