Help, Safety & Advice

Fast driving

The 70mph-speed limit on British motorways is relatively sedate compared with some of the highways and autobahns of Europe. Some motorways in Germany have no speed limit at all.

While this may sound exciting to some of you; for others, driving on a road with a fast or non-existent speed limit can be a nerve-wracking experience. It may seem obvious, but at speeds of up to 125mph (200kph) - and occasionally even higher - things can happen much more quickly.

On the fastest autobahns, the situation around you can change suddenly. One moment you may see a wide open space in your rear mirror, the next there is an irate driver flashing his lights and beeping his horn for you to move over.

Overtaking on the autobahn

The left-hand lane on an autobahn is for people going very fast only. If you need to use it to overtake a slower vehicle, check the rear view mirror very carefully and look as far back as you can. Try to overtake quickly and then move back into the right-hand lane as soon as possible, without cutting up the vehicle you are overtaking.

The major danger on an autobahn is the huge difference in speeds between lanes. If there are only two lanes in your direction, the left will have vehicles travelling over 50mph (80kph) faster than the big trucks in the right lane, which are plodding along at 60mph (96kph) - and even slower up hills.

If you drive at between 70mph and 90mph, (112kph and 144kph) you may find yourself caught in a no-man's land - too slow for the left lane and too fast for the right. This means you will be constantly switching lanes, which requires a high level of concentration. A few hours of this will take its toll and you may get tired more quickly, so take regular breaks.

Driving in the autobahn fast lane

If you have a car that's up to it and decide to use the left-hand lane, you will need to stay especially alert. Passing a line of traffic going at 75mph (120kph) when you're hurtling along at 110mph (177kph) can be dangerous if someone decides to change lanes in front of you. To avoid having to slam on the brakes, watch the vehicles in the right-hand lane closely for any signs that they intend to pull out - such as a flashing indicator signal.

Take extra care when passing trucks and other large vehicles as they tend to have bigger blind spots and slower reaction times.

Finally, when you come off the autobahn, driving again at 30mph (48kph) on a small residential road will seem strange and you will have a strong urge to speed up. Keep your eye on the speedometer to check that you don't.

Before you set off for your European break, don't forget to ensure that you have adequate breakdown cover in place.