Attention For Those Driving In Germany

sapper424 said:

Polizei will be running double camera cars, a few miles apart of each other,
on the A6, A62 and A63 starting today for the next 2-3 weeks (actual end
date unknown). If a car is flashed for speeding at the first one then
flashed for speeding on the second, the driver will lose their license for 6
months and receive a 2,000 euro fine. :stop: :autofahrer:

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And where did this "gem" come from? Smells like cow doo doo, if you ask me.

First things first, the police cars don't "flash" - they use video on board and calibrate this with timings over a mile. If they are stationary radar traps at the side of the road, they would use flashes but then any good lawyer could claim it was one and the same offence, especially as within a few miles of each other we can reasonably expect the speed limits to remain fairly constant and not swing up and down.

Secondly, if I drive through a speed trap at 123km/h where 110km/h is allowed, don't see the flash, get caught by the second one, I really would like to see the judge who would take my licence away. 13 km/h is sufficient to trigger the flash from a stationary camera but exceeding the limit twice by 13km/h would not warrant a statutory ban.

Under German law, you can only take the licence away from someone if they:

- break the limit on the motorway by more than 26km/h within a period of 12 months. Being flashed twice within a few miles would be considered one offence

- exceed the speed limit on the motorway by more than 40km/h.

Thirdly, the MAXIMUM imposable fine for speeding on the motorway is €600 for driving more than 70km/h..... Even if it were considered to be two offences, this would only be 1200€.

homer123456 said:

I assume this does not cover the 'unrestricted' areas of the Autobahn?

Sorry, not a local, but was driving through there 2 months ago.

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Speed traps are only set up in areas where there is an indicated speed limit.

However you should be aware that if you are travelling at more than 130km/h in Germany and have an accident - ie, someone builds a brick wall across your lane and you hit it -> :wall: - you will be judged to be at least partially to blame.

Using a more realistic example, you are heading down the motorway doing 180km/h, the vehicle in front loses some of it's load and you hit it. You will not get all of your damage compensated by the insurers of the vehicle which lost it's load but only a percentage as:

- had you been going 130km/h or less you could have avoided the debris
- had you been going 130km/h or less the damage would be less severe.

The implication is that 130km/h is ok, anything beyond that you are partly accepting responsibility for any eventualities.....