Riding your bike in the wrong direction on a one-way street or signaling your way into a roundabout - there are many examples of supposedly correct behavior on the road. Here are the biggest mistakes.
It's been a long time since your driver's license test? Are you still fit when it comes to traffic regulations?
A small test: A car comes from the right from an area with a lowered curb, for example from a play street. Do you give way? Well, some do that and get it wrong, according to Auto Club Europa (ACE). The right-before-left rule does not apply here. And there are other classic misconceptions about road traffic rules.
One-way streets do not apply to cyclists
"A fatal misconception," says David Koßmann from the press service bicycle (pd-f). One-way streets also apply to cyclists and may only be used in both directions if driving in the opposite direction is expressly permitted by a corresponding sign.
Bike paths can be used in both directions
This is not true, or only works if cycle paths are expressly approved for both directions with a corresponding traffic sign. Otherwise you are a wrong-way driver!
The green arrow is like a green traffic light
That's wrong, the green right-turn arrow has to be treated like a stop sign: "You have to stop at the green arrow, watch out for the crossing and then turn right," explains Herbert Engelmohr from the Automobile Club of Germany (AvD). Turning without stopping is treated like ignoring a stop sign.
You can also drive straight through a roundabout
No, unless you are traveling with a particularly long vehicle. Small circles in towns often have flat central islands. "But they may only be run over by particularly long vehicles or teams that otherwise would not be able to drive on the roundabout," says Engelmohr. Failure to comply will result in a fine of 35 euros.
It's always the fault of anyone who gets up
That can't be said in such a general way. According to Jeannine Rust from the Auto Club Europa (ACE), it is usually assumed that the rear-end vehicle was too fast or drove too close. "But the person driving ahead can also be at fault, for example if he or she brakes hard for no reason or stalls the vehicle at traffic lights."
Overtaking on the right is always prohibited
Wrong, because within built-up areas, for example, the lane can be chosen freely. "Then you can drive faster on the right than on the left," says Rust. And you can also drive faster on the acceleration lane in order to overtake a vehicle that is already driving on the motorway from behind.
Headphones are prohibited on the road
Not at all. You are allowed to use headphones on the bike for making phone calls, navigating and listening to music. "The latter, however, is only so loud that you can still hear ambient noise," says Koßmann. Incidentally, this also applies to the car. In both cases, however, holding a mobile phone is taboo.
Business days means Monday to Friday
No, because Saturday also counts as a working day, corrects the ACE. "You should pay attention to this, especially in parking areas, if it says that parking is subject to a fee on weekdays," says Rust. This is then only free on Sundays and public holidays.
Always left on the Autobahn is allowed, as long as you don't dawdle
That's not true. On German autobahns, driving on the right is mandatory, says Herbert Engelmohr. "In the event of an infringement, 80 euros and one point are due if you obstruct other road users in their progress."
There is only an exception if three lanes are available outside of built-up areas and there is a car on the far right lane from time to time. Then the middle lane may be used throughout.
