German drivers urged to avoid holiday traffic jams

The ADAC and the German Automobile Club (ACV) warn that the first holiday weekends this year are likely to see heavy stop‑and‑go traffic on major highways. Drivers can reduce congestion by travelling on less busy days, such as Tuesdays, Wednesdays or early mornings, and by checking traffic‑app forecasts before departure to bypass known bottlenecks.

A weekend truck‑prohibition (Saturday 07:00‑20:00 and all day Sunday) provides limited relief on some routes. Motorists are also advised to start trips with a full fuel tank, plan regular 15‑ to 20‑minute breaks every two hours (or 200 km), and keep snacks, drinks and medicines within easy reach. For families, only a few well‑secured toys should be packed, and children’s comfort can be improved with sun‑shades or light fabrics on windows. Navigation systems remain useful, but drivers should avoid blindly following re‑routing suggestions that could shift congestion to side roads.