Radar detectors allowed in Germany? + BONUS Autobahn CAUTIONS/TIPS

[Leigh Anderson]

Tom - Being in Netherlands, you might have a more euro-capable set of freqs in the detectors available to you.  

However, i did find out that the of the two main radar freqs used in germany, exactly only one is covered by usa-oriented detectors. My recommendation is don't push speed outside of unlimited-speed zones, which get fewer and fewer over the years.

BTW esp. for usa first-timers to germany autobahns - do not count on lane discipline in germany anymore. in fact if you are steaming along at high speed and you encounter a 'sh_t-box' (tiny car) anywhere near an overtaking position on a truck, ASSUME IT ***WILL**** PULL IN LEFT LANE WITHOUT LOOKING FAR ENOUGH BACK FOR A FAST CAR, this happens far too often, so rent a car with really good brakes.  When i see that situation developing ahead I always slow way down so that overtaking speed differential is such that I can outbrake this classic sh_tbox move (like slow from 140 down to 90 or less which puts you in their mirror for more than 3 seconds.  Count on "stau's sp?", traffic jams, frequently during daylight hours. Drive at wee hours to avoid traffic.  Have a co-pilot calling out the speed sign changes which are frequent (much smaller signs than usa), the driver can't catch all the speed limit changes and keep attention on the road ahead at speed.  At night, flash your brights a couple times a quarter mile ahead of overtaking a right-lane group, it freezes everyone pretty effectively. When available, at speed, use ultra-long arcing/racing-lines employing parts of a couple adjacent lanes for a longer vision-sight-line and so you have more lateral room for straighter-line braking as needed... so eg on left-handers favor moving at least part-way into middle/right lane, for much longer sight-line. Keep your eyes way out there a half-mile or better.  

Have fun and be safe over there.

my 2 cents on autobahn tips. (hey it rhymes)

Cheers,
Leigh

>would like to know for our upcoming trip to the 
l>land of Autobahns if I can use a radar detector...
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