Driving through Germany

A snowHead

We are going to driving through Germany to get from Salzburg to Mayrhofen next weekend. Just looking through all the info sent via Sunweb and spotted this:

A snowHead

@NickyJ, we use tomtom (in iOS app guise), and drive 2-3 times a year NL-D-A/CH. In my experience the app doesn’t flag up speed cameras in D, without any settings tweaks by me, but continues to alert for cameras in the other countries. And in any case I can’t see how the police are going to know, and it seems extremely unlikely they’d be stopping folk for random checks.

Have a great trip.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

The exact definition in law varies across europe. It's illegal in France to use anything that gives exact location and even having it in the car is an offence. It is illegal to use anything that tells you where a camera is in Germany although enforcement varies by region. It's illegal to use any device in Switzerland too.

For most of the rest of Europe fixed location GPS based systems are legal but detectors are not.

See here for tomtom's statement http://uk.support.tomtom.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5560/~/tomtom-speed-camera-service-and-the-law

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@tarrantd, thanks - although I found that, it didn’t seem to agree with the quote above which was saying even if it is switched off it is still and offence (which seems a bit overkill to me!), but drove my question, as I am sure there must be many other snowhead who have done this Happy

@Inboard, thanks.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@NickyJ, Why not just go via Bichofshofen and Zell am Zee. Much nicer drive and the trip over the Gerlos Pass is lovely. Only 20 mins longer than the German route. Did it a fortnight ago.

You'll need to Register first of course.

@NickyJ, also if you take the car out of Austria you will have to declare it to the rental company and likely have to pay a cross border charge of c€30

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

After all it is free

@NickyJ, yeah...I managed to to that the first time I drove to Salzburg airport.

The charge wouldn't be applied retrospectively

This is extremely unlikely to be an issue. As far as I am aware there are no fixed cameras between Bad Reichenhall and Kufstein. The are fixed cameras between Kufstein and Jenbach (note 100km speed limit). Unless you are driving in a very odd way you are never going to get stopped, the German police dont patrol as in the UK, they appear if there has been an incident or someone is spotted behaving suspiciously. You are more likely to come across mobile speed cameras (largely operated by private contractors) but these are not usually on the autobahns and in any case the locations are announced on the radio (the idea being to ensure people keep to speed limits not to catch them). Sometimes the overhead gantries have cameras in them but these are moved around so doubt they would show up in a nav system. Basically you dont need to worry.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

I heard that the Germans have deployed a new Satellite system that is able to detect drivers that slow down at fixed camera locations. The assumption is that if you do then you probably have an illegal device. The resolution is so good that they can read your number plate and penalties can be severe if you get stopped. They send signals to the cops. I’d be careful if I was you, especially given you’ll be in Germany for at least what, 70 miles?

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@Bodeswell, urban myth. There are a few fixed cameras in Munich, locals, taxi drivers etc know where they are so slow down, pretty much the same as anywhere else. Dont believe what you read on the internet................

snow reports

@OuchMyKnee, I think that may be one reason why the road safety record in the UK is higher/better than in Germany (and in France) last time I looked. As well as the fact you see a lot of patrolling motorway police here as well. It is bound to be a deterrent.
I've just driven back from Austria and through Germany both ways, I didn't see one patrol car in either direction but I did see a lot of people driving way too fast in my opinion-speed limit in place or not.
That was what prompted me to look up the road safety stats actually as I wondered if there were more accidents in Germany or not compared to here.

You know it makes sense.

I noticed a lot more mobile phone use in Austria too having been there 3 months and when I asked someone I was skiing with if it was illegal there to use a phone when driving they said it was illegal but the fine is only €50 so loads of people still do it.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@VolklAttivaS5,

A snowHead

A snowHead

@NickyJ, who did you use for your rental? just interested as we were on a lat flight last time and rented from Avis with a good deal, as the local providers all finished before the last flight. FYI. We use Waze to drive F,B,D,A speed camera location is automatically turned off in the appropriate country.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@radar, Europcar. We are landing at 10.25am so don’t expect any issues with the desks.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

@VolklAttivaS5, no idea about the statistics but here most residential areas have a 30 km / h speed limit (20 mph) which is by and large kept to. The more general limit is 50km / h (same as 30 mph). Most cameras are in these areas few on the autobahn. It is a perfectly normal sight to see 7 year olds pottering about on bikes on their own, not something you see in the UK.

I agree the autobahn can be rather intimidating if you are not used to driving at 100 mph plus (the autobahns around Munich are particular bad in this regard), though note that if you are involved in an accident and were driving at over 130 km/h you are automatically deemed to be partially at fault whatever the circumstances. In general driving in cities here is nowhere near as aggressive as in London.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@NickyJ, Thanks

You'll need to Register first of course.

If you think London is aggressive...

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@munich_irish, interesting thanks.
Yeah I think 80 mph is plenty fast enough really, after all when you consider the increased stopping distance required when travelling at 100mph compared to 70 or 80mph and also the reduced fuel economy (as well as not really saving that much time) then is it really worth it? Probably not.

What I had noticed on the autobahns was the frequency of seeing cars doing way in excess of 100mph and with not even one car length of space left behind the car in front (both cars doing the same speed obviously).
Aggressive, dangerous and selfish in my view because if they do crash they will probably involve a fair few others. I was expecting the autobahns to be not as congested as UK motorways but to be fair I can't say I thought they were any quieter.
In France then yes, I've not seen anyone else for miles so I would agree it wasn't as busy on French autoroutes (on the way to and from the Alps anyhow) compared to UK motorways.

After all it is free

@NickyJ, I must apologise for my facetious comment earlier. I have been driving in Germany since the late 80s and I can guarantee you nobody will stop you and check your tom-tom between Salzburg and Kufstein. Don't worry about it.

@VolklAttivaS5, thanks, thought that must be what you meant.

Help!!

Driving through Germany

snowHeads Forum Index >>> The Piste