I have to drive in Germany for the first time next week. I do not read/speak german. Do you have any driving tips that may be of help? I will have t drive on the autobahns - but only in a 1.8 astra .

thanks

 

traffic density is less than the UK, the speed difference between the fastest and slowest cars is greater. Lane discipline is very good, keep using your mirror! The average traffic speed surprisingly is in the low 90's, but some (very few) cars do travel considerably quicker. hope this helps

 

Look up Markus, owner of the black beast.

He did a Germany trip earlier this year.

Have a good trip.

Cheers

 

Beware the Munich ring road on a Saturday morning.....

 

Beware the Munich ring road on a Saturday morning.....

And don't forget to drive on the right...

 

And as if by magic, the Markus appears!

As has been mentioned, I did a trip to Germany earlier, and it was also my first european driving experince.

As has been said by others, traffic is not that heavy, and road manners are very high.

If you're in the outside lane and someone is behind you and they stick their left indicator on, it;'s a polite way of telling you to move over.

Fuel is cheaper, think 95 ron is called Super, and 98 is Super Plus.

umm, you should really fit a GB sticker, and the headlight conversion sticker things. Best bet is to get down to halfords and get a european driving kit.

Oh, and ausfhart (spell checker won' t help with that one ) means, I think, exit, and exit roads tend to be a bit on the sharp side.

hope this helps

 

Your first roundabout will be interesting. We were in Germany at the begining of October. Drove from Rotterdam to Dusseldorf without to much trouble. Night time driving for the first time on the right is an interesting experince. If you are going via Rotterdam watch out for the Police on motorbikes.

Ric

 

Agree in most places traffic is lighter than Southern UK, lane discipline is very good but can be extremely fast in outside lane, I've been flashed to move in whilst doing over 220KPH. Estate cars always seem to drive the fastest for some reason.

No too many speed traps and if you've a UK car your OK anyway. They have cameras to check your distance between you and car in front and you can get done for that but again its automated so UK cars OK.

More lorries than the UK but they mostly stay in slow lane. Petrol about 60odd pence per litre.

Watch your spacing as pileups are quite common and so don't bunch up which is one fault I see in German Drivers.

Off the A-Bahn its accepted to drive to the limit and very few people speed off the A-Bahns.

Make sure you've got licence,insurance,passport and probably registration document as its the first thing they ask for if your stopped.

Ausfahrt is exit(note spelling)
Kreutz is motorway intersection/major junction.

Tankstellen is petrol station.
3 grades of petrol 91,95 & 98ron I think.

Diesel is always at a different pump. Here in Hessen anyway.

No handsigns to crap drivers as you can get fined and its unusual, and under NO circumstances undertake on the wrong side you can get up to 200 quid fine PER VEHICLE.

Be careful
Cammy

 

and the Feds dive Green and White Opel Vectras ;o) So if your astra is a white van you'll outrun them easy <ggg>.

cammy