Germany a single stop-and-go: the ADAC is forecasting the weekend with the most traffic jams of the year for the upcoming weekend (28th to 30th July). Motorways throughout Germany are affected. The reasons: The holidays are beginning in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, while the second wave of travel is rolling in from other federal states. In addition, there is the return journey to NRW, where school starts again on August 7th.
Not only good nerves are required. The perfect preparation for the unavoidable traffic jam scenario also makes the difference. And this is what the ideal traffic jam precaution for the whole family looks like:
If possible, plan your travel time in the morning or evening hours. In this way, you not only avoid emerging traffic jams. They also avoid being out and about in the hot midday hours.
Before you travel, check that the air conditioning is working properly. Standing in a traffic jam in the blazing sun, the car can become a heat trap for young and old at record speed. When in doubt, a functioning air conditioning system saves lives.
Are kids on board? Then comprehensive traffic jam prevention is all the more important. The little ones not only get impatient in traffic jams. Tightly strapped into their car seats, they also suffer most from the heat. It is therefore advisable to attach a sunshade to the rear side windows to protect the little passengers from the sun.
Children want to be busy. Have plenty of play options ready – from toys to teddy bears. Older children like to be distracted with audio or video entertainment. But also keep good old communication games like “I see something you don’t see…” in the back of your mind.
A sufficient selection of sugar-free drinks for all passengers is mandatory. Note: Cool drinks – cool head. Of course, teas also taste good in traffic jams. On the other hand, leave drinks that no longer taste good warm (soft drinks) at home and switch to water. Keeping to a structured drinking plan is vital, especially for children and older holidaymakers, because seniors often forget to drink enough. So take care of your loved ones.
Good navigation is another important point. Modern navigation systems and apps can not only calculate the fastest route, but also the route with the least traffic. It can be worth taking a little extra time and driving on country roads instead of being stuck in traffic on the freeway.
Sounds banal, but it really isn’t at all: Fill up sufficiently before driving and give your engine enough cooling water. In the case of e-cars, it is essential to always keep an eye on the charging status. Getting stuck in a traffic jam would be a real breakdown…
When all else fails, a break is often the best solution. In contrast to a traffic jam, you can confidently get out and move around at a rest area. Keep it sane: Going on holiday isn’t about breaking course records. The holiday should start as soon as you get into the car. The route is the goal…
Mega traffic jams were not uncommon this year either. According to the ADAC, the previous traffic jam “leader” with 3630 traffic jams was the weekend of July 14th to 16th. The traffic jam record of 46 kilometers is held by a traffic jam on July 16 on the A24 (Schwerin – Berlin). Adequate preparation is worthwhile so that the traffic jam does not stand in the way of a relaxing holiday.
