21
Below far left Camper van parked on the road
between Wildsteig and Rottenbuch, Bavaria
Below left Motorcycles at Schloss Rheinsberg,
Bradenburg Below center Bicycle secured to
a motorhome Below center right
Well- maintained road to Bad Harzburg,
Lower Saxony Below Downtown shopping
street in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse,
Rhineland-PalatinateLeft Road gritter clearing snow from the road Right Taxis parked in the old town center, Landshut, Bavaria
Driving in Winter
If driving through Germany during
the winter, you should buy or rent
chains (if there is heavy snow) or
at least the essential winter tires.
From December to March, roads
in mountain areas can be coated
with snow and ice. Highways are
kept clear, but side roads may be
closed completely, and access to
other roads may only be permitted
for vehicles fitted with snow chains.
When renting a car, make sure
you get winter tires along with the
car, even though many companies
offer just regular summer tires. Note
that car companies usually charge
extra for snow chains. Make sure that
the tires are in good condition. In
case of an accident, if the car does
not have adequate tires, the insur-
ance cover may not remain valid.
The maximum speed possible with
snow chains is 30 mph (50 kph).
In Germany, winter tires are not
mandatory, but on the spot fines
can be imposed if the vehicle is
not equipped for winter weather
DIRECTORYMOTORCYCLES
AdMo Tours
http://www.admo-tours.com
DISABLED DRIVERS
Federal Ministry of Transport,
Building and Urban Affairs
+ 49 (030) 18 300 3060
CAR RENTAL
Avis
01805 21 77 02; http://www.avis.de
Budget
01805 21 77 11; http://www.budget.de
Hertz
01805 33 35 35; http://www.hertz.de
Sixt
01805 25 25 25; http://www.sixt.deDriving in Germany
credit card to claim CDW, but check
carefully with your credit card com-
pany beforehand to make sure they
will cover your trip abroad, and be
prepared to show proof of coverage.
conditions. In other words, fines
can be levied for not enough
windshield cleansing fluid or use
of the wrong sort of tires. Bring
plenty of warm clothes, a blanket,
food, and water during winter
travel in case of major delays on
the Autobahn, or if travelling
under hazardous conditions in
mountainous areas. Always reduce
your speed in adverse conditions,
as you will need a longer braking
distance, and poor visibility gives
less time to react.
In high-altitude regions and
mountainous areas, you may
encounter ice and snow in winter.
Slow down, especially for curves
and turns, and keep your actions
steady and deliberate to avoid sliding
out of control. If the car skids, take
your foot off the accelerator – do
not brake – and turn the wheel
into the skid until the car corrects
itself. Watch out for ice, especially
on bridges and overpasses, which
freeze up first. If you hit a patch,
do not brake or turn the wheel,
but keep as straight as possible
and coast over it.
When conditions reduce light
levels, dipped headlights should be
used. Turn on fog lights whenever
visibility is less than 328 ft (100 m).