- These 10 tips will help you get through any traffic jam
A traffic jam is always annoying, whether it's during rush hour or on the way to vacation. But what can you do to not lose your cool? stern gives ten tips:
Don't even think about driving into the traffic jam. The magic word is "anticyclical driving," says ADAC spokesperson Andreas Hölzel. But that's easier said than done. Most travelers set off on Fridays or Saturdays, knowing that others will do the same, and a traffic jam is inevitable. Last weekend alone, there were around 4,000 hours of standstill on German motorways. "Tuesday and Wednesday would be better alternatives. However, as the change of beds often occurs at the weekend with package holidays, these days are not used enough," says Hölzel.
If you're already risking the standstill, prepare: Standing in a traffic jam at 30 degrees is a real challenge. Cool drinks and plenty of food give energy, boost mood, and make time pass a little faster. That's why snacks that don't fill you up quickly are important - you can chew on chopped fruit and vegetables for a long time, both children and adults.
Travel like a Buddhist: In a traffic jam, only radical acceptance of reality helps. Getting angry at the guy in front of you, the many construction sites (yes, there are currently around 1,200 according to ADAC), or politics - none of that helps.
Act professionally: Keep a safe distance, ideally two vehicle lengths. They serve as a buffer in case someone rear-ends you.
Form a rescue lane. Those driving on the overtaking lane should move to the left. On all other lanes, you must move to the right.
Want to get out for a moment? According to the Road Traffic Regulations, it is strictly forbidden to stay on an Autobahn. "But if the traffic jam is endless and you just want to stretch your legs or let the dog out for a moment, you usually won't get into trouble," says ADAC spokesperson Hölzel.
Play together: "We make up sentences from license plates, like BOR-SS = Farmers without mercy shoot sparrows. Or: FR-SW = Free swingers swing wildly. Or we define a rather rare color (lilac, lime green, vanilla white...) and look for objects in that color on the Autobahn. And when nothing else helps, the children can have the iPad!", says Helen Boemelburg, head of the society section of stern.
Be creative: "As a child, I thought it was great to tie friendship bracelets on trips. And I recently saw an Instagram story where the mother bought window crayons that you can draw on car windows with (and easily wipe off)", says Nele Spandick, who works as a leading editor for economics at stern.
Easily bypass the traffic jam: "I actually drive off immediately as soon as the navigation shows a long traffic jam. And if you're then on a country road, the navigation shows you the alternative route and guides you back to the Autobahn when the opportunity arises. So you at least stay in motion, and I've often experienced that the planned arrival time doesn't change either. You can also be more flexible and stop at a gas station when your bladder is full. Now on holiday in France, we always enter 'avoid toll road' and drive leisurely on the country roads, the fuel consumption is lower - and you also see more than on an Autobahn," says Jessica Kröll, who works as an editor in the current affairs team at stern.
Thank you for the music: "My panacea for pre-traffic-jam dramas like traffic jams and canceled trains is and remains music. Why not let the kids take over the DJ booth in the car or introduce your partner to a new genre that you're currently excited about? That's how I gradually introduced my husband to the world of K-Pop, construction site for construction site, detour for detour. It's also a real test of marriage and proof of love if the partner holds out good-naturedly or even gets infected. And family karaoke with the little ones is always super cool," says Siems Luckwaldt, editor at Capital.
Let yourself be entertained: After hours of waiting, you often don't feel like talking anymore. Then annoyed silence often replaces inspiring conversations. This is the perfect time to play stern podcasts: They entertain without requiring conversation. Discover, for example, the stern-Crime-Podcast* "Spurensuche", in which investigators and specialists tell their most exciting cases. But don't let yourself be too distracted by the traffic!
If you're planning a trip and want to avoid the traffic jam on the highway, consider traveling on Tuesday or Wednesday instead. Despite the standstill, having snacks like chopped fruit and vegetables can help make the time pass more comfortably.
