How different is driving in germany?

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frackledJJ

Since, when you get out of the airport, the first thing you are probably going to drive on is an autobahn:

The signs on the Autobahn do not say "A3 West" and "A3 East", they will just give you directions. "Wiesbaden", for instance, which would be west, or "Aschaffenburg/WÃ¼rzburg", which would be east. Basically, that whole "north/west/East/south" you won't find here. You have to know what your destination is, or, if that is a very small town, what big city is close to it to find your way when navigating the Autobahn.
Next: There is NO taking over cars while driving to the right of them on purpose. Absolute no go, that's illegal in Germany, and police will stop you if they see you doing it. If they do, you can try to play the ignorance-card, but it will depend on the policemen whether they believe you or make you pay a fine.
3.: Over 50% of the German Autobahn system DO have speed regulation. So don't ignore any speed signs along the way.

OFF the Autobahn:
When passing a yellow, rectangular sign when entering a city or small town or village, the speed limit behind that sign is automatically 50km/h, unless there are other speed signs regulating speed.

When entering a street with a blue "play street" sign at the beginning, your only allowed to drive at "walking speed", meaning basically you choke your motor trying to be that slow.

There is NO turn on red, unless there is a permanent green arrow. Those are mostly on kind of flimsy-looking little plastic rectangular that have been attached to some street sign by wires or stuff, since the regulation of green arrows is relatively new. Thus, don't get confused when you are standing at a crossroad and want to turn and somebody is honking at you, either if you don't turn (that means you probably haven't seen the arrow, but make sure there is one before driving) or if you turn, since some nice person might just want to remind you that you are turning on red (even though there is a permanent green arrow).
Procedure: You need to stop where you would stop if there were no green arrow. Than you can drive on to the point where you can see traffic and check whether the road is clear. You do need to come to a full stop there, too. When the road is clear, you can go.

Lights are the same. Sometimes you'll see little lights for bikers attached to a street light at a lower level. Usually those turn green a little earlier than the ones for the cars.
For the meaning of street signs, try this link:

http://german.about.com/library/blauto_traf.htm

Hope that helps. Well, anyway, welcome to Germany, and enjoy your stay!

Dislexia Wulf

this question drives me crazy because I can't say anything about it

Tea

"It's true: there are no speed limits on the German autobahns. But there are plenty of other regulations you should be aware of."
-yielding to the car on the right( even when you are on the main road) if you approach a dashed line. Always slow down when approaching that one.
Also, if you run a red light, don't expect to be chased by a police. A mounted camera will snap pic of driver and the autotag. Info will be gathered according to tag info and you receive the fine in the mail.

Thomas t

turn right at red traffic lights is forbidden, unless there is a sign with a green arrow pointing right.

pro_and_contra

We drive on the right side, pass on the left and move back to the right.
Not like in the States where they drive next to each other and no one can't get by.

hannjen

It is not that different, but one thing that caught me out at the beginning was the "rechts vor links" rule: there are some places where there is no stop sign or traffic light or even markings on the road, but the car coming from your right has priority. So if you are driving along a straight road and there are side roads, it may be that the car coming from the side road has priority and you have to stop to let them out. This is sometimes signposted: look out for a triangle sign with a black X and red rim.

Have fun in Germany!

Ash

After 18 years in Germany and 1 year in the States i can tell you the Europeans are much better drivers then the Americans!!!
Lights are the same, but i figured out that in the US the yellow is much longer then the German! For a reason! Everybody blows the red light here... The German signs show symbols (you'll understand it no matter what language you speak) A lot of US signs have stuff written on it...
So even the dumbest guy knows what to do.. Stupid!
Autobahn is really relaxing to drive!! When you're not going so fast stay in the right lane!!! that's it!

Victoria H

the same rules apply in germany red stop, green go, yellow yiel, stop stop, driving signs are universal you will have no problem esept that if you go on the hihtway please dont go 55 or 65, speed limit, limits are high and are st in kilometers usually they go from 110 to 120, that would be around 90 to 100 miles per hour, the dash board come in kilometers so you wont have problems

jeff

parts of the autobahn have no speed limit so expect traffic 100 mph or more to fly by you.

deutsch Frau - Sherry

Yes the signs are slightly different, in all honesty I think we use far more than Germans do and its almost as if they treat you like your some idiot here but I have heard there portions of the Autobahn are unlimited but the average is about 90 MPH.

I am sure you can find more information either online or even from the rental company.

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