Points of interest of traffic rules in Germany

MT onroad helps drivers on the road in Germany who have to deal with difficulties. In addition to round-the-clock technical support, we regularly deliver useful blogs wherein we discuss traffic rules in Germany and specific moments that drivers from other countries may not be prepared for.

Requirements for freight transport in winter

• With the onset of winter, it is important for drivers to consider the following requirements:
• If you pass a section of road marked with a special sign, the use of snow chains is mandatory, otherwise you may receive a fine. The chains are attached to the wheels (of the driving axle). A shovel and tow rope should also be there on board.

Winter tires are mandatory for trucks of classes N2 and N3. The tires must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. These tires must be on the drive axles. Trailers and semi-trailers do not require winter tires. Failure to install winter tires may result in a fine. For the driver it’s 60-80 euros, for the owner of the vehicle it’s 75 euros.

Traffic rules in Germany: the maximum speed limit

The German Highway Code defines the maximum permitted speed for goods transport:

1. The following rules apply to trucks with semi-trailers and road trains: within populated  areas, the permitted speed must not exceed 50 km/h, on public roads it’s 60 km/h, on highways it’s 80 km/h.
2. On highways with clearly separated lanes for trucks weighing more than 3.5 tons, the maximum speed is 80 km/h.
3. On federal and state roads cars with a mass of 3.5-7.5 tons are allowed to drive at a speed of 80 km/h. For trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons, the maximum speed is 60 km/h.
4. The maximum speed for trucks weighing 3.5-7.5 tons or more is 50 km/h in populated areas.

By exceeding the speed limit within a populated area by 10 km/h you can get a fine of up to 30 euros, and if you exceed it by 70 km/h, the fine will amount to 800 euros, plus there is a risk of losing your license for 3 months.

How many ppm are considered legal in Germany?

Drunk driving can be punished by a fine of between 500 and 1,000 euros, although drinking a glass of beer before getting behind the wheel is not considered a crime. The rules are based on the permissible level of alcohol concentration in the blood. It is important that it does not exceed 0.5 ppm. On average, this is 1 glass of beer, but it gets complicated.

In case of drunk driving, i.e. if more than 0.5 ppm of alcohol is detected in the blood, you can lose your driver's license for a certain period of time. You will also have to undergo a medical/psychological examination (MPU) - at your own expense and with a psychologist. 

However, if a traffic accident is imminent and at the same time the driver is found to have only 0.3 ppm of alcohol in his blood - that is, less than the maximum permissible concentration - he faces a heavy fine and, in some cases, even imprisonment. So, if you are thinking about having a glass of beer before driving, you should consider all the possible consequences.

Traffic fines and penalty points in Germany 

Germany enforces fines for violations of road traffic regulations and, beyond that, penalty points. What does that look like in practice? For example, if you have exceeded the speed limit in populated areas, in addition to a fine, 1 to 2 points are awarded, and in some cases a driving ban may be imposed for a period of 1 to 3 months. In Germany, depending on the severity of the violation, between 1 and 3 penalty points are awarded.

In summary, parking is a serious issue in most cities in Germany, so it's best to prepare in advance and find out where there is cheap or free parking. Speeding in Germany is punishable by heavy fines. If you’re unlucky, you can get a fine of 800 euros and lose your driver's license. 

Drunk driving is punished severely. You’ll face fines, disenfranchisement, and even jail time, even though the law says it's not a crime to drink a glass of beer before driving.

We hope that this information was interesting and useful. MT onroad technical assistance experts on the roads of Germany are available 24/7.