One of the worst traffic weekends starts
Starting from the afternoon, German autobahns are expected to be very congested as southern German students also have holidays now. A lot of patience is required during travel to vacation destinations. According to the ADAC, traffic jams are particularly likely in the afternoon. The situation is not expected to ease up even after that: The automobile club warned of one of the worst traffic weekends of the season. "The Sunday is expected to be just as congested as the Saturday," said a spokesperson.
The autobahns with the highest risk of traffic jams in both directions, according to the ADAC, are in the metropolitan areas of Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. With most forced stops, one can expect them at construction sites on the autobahn where the lanes are reduced or particularly long. The "worst traffic stretches" listed by the ADAC include the A1 between Hamburg and Flensburg and the A6 between Mannheim and Nuremberg - it can get very tight in both directions there.
The grim forecast from the ADAC is also due to last year's experience. The last July weekend was, according to the ADAC, the most congested weekend of the season in the travel year 2023.
1230 construction sites on the autobahns
With Bayern and Baden-Württemberg, all federal states have holidays. "A second wave is rolling out from Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern," analyzed the auto experts. In Bremen, Lower Saxony, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, school will soon start again. According to the ADAC, there are currently 1230 construction sites on the autobahns, slightly fewer than last year.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a closure affects the A1 at Leverkusen. Starting from this evening until Monday morning, the important traffic artery between the interchanges Leverkusen and Leverkusen-West will be closed in both directions. Traffic is to be diverted widely and depending on direction and destination via the A59 or A3.
To avoid the biggest traffic jams, vacationers should ideally not leave on Fridays, Saturdays or Sundays - or if they do, then only in the late afternoon, advises the traffic club. Additionally, significantly more time should be planned. To avoid waiting times at toll stations, necessary vignettes can be purchased in advance.
Trains and airports also congested
The longest traffic jam of the year, according to the ADAC, occurred on January 18 - on the A61 between Ludwigshafen and Mönchengladbach, there was a traffic jam of 77 kilometers in length. The reason was reportedly freezing rain.
Anyone traveling by train should also plan on crowded trains. Most train journeys take place during vacation periods, as a spokesperson noted. The return traffic is distributed over several days. In the internet and the app, train load is indicated. Flexible travelers are advised to use connections in the early morning and late evening. Important lines are also closed for construction work.
Airports are also expected to be congested. Munich Airport expects over six million passengers in the coming vacation weeks, alone 400,000 passengers on the first weekend. The recommendation: build in time buffers.
Despite the ADAC warning of one of the worst traffic weekends of the season, vacationers might consider changing their travel plans to avoid the busiest days. Instead of departing on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, they could consider leaving in the late afternoon or opt for a different day entirely, to avoid the worst traffic jams. Moreover, international travelers shouldnote forget to purchase necessary vignettes for toll stations in advance to avoid waiting times.
