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Holiday traffic jams plague German autobahns as final states begin summer break
🇩🇪 Germany /Disasters & Emergencies

Holiday traffic jams plague German autobahns as final states begin summer break

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Germany's final two states, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, began their summer holidays, leading to significant traffic jams on autobahns.
  • The ADAC reported nearly 600 kilometers of traffic congestion at peak times on Saturday, caused by a combination of vacationers and day-trippers.
  • While Sunday is expected to see less travel, a return flow of travelers is anticipated in Bavaria starting in the afternoon, with the A7 between Würzburg and Fulda noted as a bottleneck.

German autobahns experienced heavy congestion as the last two federal states, Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, kicked off their summer holidays. The influx of vacationers, combined with day-trippers, created a perfect storm for traffic jams across the country, testing the patience of drivers.

The ADAC, Germany's automobile club, reported that the total length of traffic jams on the nation's highways reached nearly 600 kilometers during the peak hour between 12:00 and 13:00 on Saturday. This surge in traffic was attributed to the simultaneous start of holidays in the southern states, adding to the usual weekend travel.

You could really see the holiday traffic.

— ADAC spokespersonDescribing the extent of traffic congestion on German autobahns during the start of summer holidays.

While traffic was expected to ease slightly on Sunday, a significant return flow of travelers was anticipated in Bavaria from the afternoon onwards. The ADAC specifically warned of a potential bottleneck on the A7 autobahn between Würzburg and Fulda, a route known for its congestion during peak travel periods. The holiday traffic in Bavaria was notably heavier than in previous weeks.

The A7 between Würzburg and Fulda is a certain bottleneck.

— ADAC spokespersonWarning about a specific congested area during the return travel from holidays.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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