These Things Freak Me Out About Driving in Germany 😳

What's it REALLY like to drive in Germany? Germany is known for its efficient road systems, but it comes with its own set of quirks that can leave you feeling a bit uneasy... There are things that freak me out while driving in Germany.
From the seemingly endless barrage of road signs that demand your attention 🚦, to sharing the road with fearless cyclists ⚡, and those sneaky speed traps lurking around every bend 📡...
Let's dive into the anxieties of driving in Germany that might make you second-guess that road trip. 🇩🇪🚘😐
Here are some top tips for navigating those German roads!
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00:45 - Cyclists own the road
01:13 - FOLLOW the rules!
02:21 - Do I stop? Or go?
02:42 - Insane German road signs
03:46 - Caution! Speed trap ahead!
04:46 - Traffic Reports on your screen
05:15 - Road conditions

[@bas1330]

Serious tip: Maybe take a few driving lessons, many driving schools offer advanced courses for driving "re-starters", and above all please learn the German traffic rules and signs. Important: Right always has the right of way, ALWAYS, unless otherwise is indicated by traffic signs (e.g. by the right of way sign). A black cross in front of a red triangle means "Caution: junction" at junctions are difficult to see, but again indicates that right has the right of way. Round sign, white arrow on blue ground pointing downwards describes the route and usually means "pass the obstacle on this side". The same sign with a curve arrow or arrow pointing upwards means driving ONLY in this direction is allowed.

[@henryluebberstedt7819]

Der Typ auf dem Motorrad bei 3:14 wusste definitiv nicht, was das Zeichen bedeutet....

[@Wachtel-Haltung]

Hi Jenna, you really should book a few lessons at a driving school. It is very dangerous driving around without knowing the most important signs... Greetings Thomas

[@arnodobler1096]

Hello Jenna, someone needs a few driving lessons?! 😉

[@jogozc]

Sorry Jenna - lived in Canada and Germany, and the U. S. and the UK and Germany has THE BEST Driver's Test and SIGNAGE.

[@lbergen001]

Good video Jenna, thanks.👍👍 And please learn and look at the road signs, they give you usefull information.And other road users count on you. During my driving lessons, I learned it the hard way. Once my instructor asked me what the sign means we just passed. I had not look at it. Then he instructed me to walk 100m back to look at the sign. Still 30yrs later, I rarely miss a road sign.

[@andreashorn9638]

05:50 The roads are bumpy :) Thats funny, I am in Tuscany right now, get here if you want to see bumpy old roads:)

[@RustyDust101]

Little tip for always checking for bicyclists as a driver when you leave your car on the side of the street: use the Dutch opening method. Instead of using your left hand, train yourself to use your right hand. Obviously this only works in countries with right-side traffic. But if you do that, this forces your whole body to turn to the left making you automatically check the back of your vehicle, thus check for bikers as well. Yes, I'm German, but once I heard of this I had to give kudos to our oranje neighbors; nice idea, and it works.

[@maxmustardman298]

Thats awesome, never heard of that method

[@morbvsclz]

Yes. very useful indeed. It's commonly taught in German driving schools now as well. I made my license 20 years ago, and I was at least recommended to do so. So it's certainly not new, but somehow still seems like hardly anyone does it. (Me included, too uncomfortable when you are 2m tall and your legs just about fit underneath the steering wheel, even in Audi A6. I rather watch my mirror and wait 5 seconds before opening).

[@hansmeiser32]

3:11 "never knew what it meant" Right before left - that's why the motorcyclist was driving really recklessly.

[@Anson_AKB]

yes ... The rule "right before left" applies *_always_* if there are no other signs, traffic lights, etc that give priority to one road or tell you otherwise. This extra sign with the cross is a warning sign (like all white triangles with red border) and shall warn that there is a crossing with normal "right before left" rule. When they put up a sign that "only" tells you to watch out because normal rules apply, you need to be extra careful (just the opposite of the bike that completely ignored the sidestreet and the sign) since telling that nothing special applies is unusual and done only for a good reason, like a sidestreet which is barely visible, a spot with lots of accidents, or other special conditions.

[@user-lb6kv5ku4m]

The rule "right before left" also applies across Canada. just most intersections in the populated part of Canada have some yield or stop signs. What is disturbing that you usually do not have right-of-way signs, i.e you need to look whether the other streets have signs....

[@Anson_AKB]

@@user-lb6kv5ku4m in germany, either none or all directions need to have signs. for yielding there are normal yield signs (same triangles that you know, the only sign with the corner at the bottom to recognize it even when covered by dirt or snow; but without text in it) and the octagonal stop signs (but there are no all-direction-stop crossings) and since we are not flooded with 4way stops ("oversaturation" with them reduces the perception of danger) we usually take stop signs much more seriously instead of thinking of them only as the 4way version of the simple yield. the complemantary signs on the priority road are either triangular signs that apply only for the next crossing, or "fried egg" signs (45 degree tilted square with yellow center and a white border) that indicate a continueing priority/main road but which still need to be repeated before each crossing in towns or after every crossing in the countryside. "right before left" crossings are mostly used in residential areas and/or on smaller roads. together with roads being smaller and many residential areas being declared as "Tempo 30 zone" (speed limit 30 km/h or slightly under 20 mph, for the entire area without need to repeat it everywhere), this _automatically_ leads to overall slower speeds, more attentiveness and more safety in those areas (in contrast to having big wide residential roads with no serious speed limits that also invite to even worse speeding). "right before left" does not apply for small farm pathes, special residential areas ("verkehrsberuhigte Zonen", areas for joint usage by everybody with speed limit of walking speed), access roads to parking places or private properties, and similar "non-roads". All of these never have any right of way.

[@LucaSitan]

Happens in reverse too! When I first moved to the UK I had no idea other countries had speed limits on the motorway. I made it to a friend in record time and she asked me how I got there so fast...That's how I learned.

[@nettcologne9186]

4:11 Mini-Highway 🤣👍

[@verohavre3920]

The most confusing thing driving in Canada for me as a German was a sign at a crossroad, where all 4 streets had a stopsign, noone had a priority, so weird.

[@lbergen001]

Indeed, it gives you the impression you're allowed to proceed after a stop, regardless other cars.

[@lifeingermany_]

So interesting! I never thought about that before... but we have SO many of those in Canada!

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@lifeingermany_ Its a American thing. Confuse your enemy until he does not know what to do and goes home without doing anything. Most other traffic signs are the same. Very confusing. It took me 8 weeks to understand the signs on the onramps of the Los Angeles Highways and what they mean with the number of drivers and allowed lanes, follow the traffic signals etc. Very confusing. I just waited in line with everybody else. Just to be sure. But i always were allowed to overtake everyone including Sperrlinien and drive on with 2-3 passengers onboard. Took me 8 weeks to learn this. My colelgues wee also from elsewhere and we discussed this for many hours. That was before the Internet.

[@th60of]

2:48: Yes, I know the signs, as everybody who passed a German driving test should. It's generally not a bad idea to acquaint yourself with the lay of the land when you're in a foreign country. 3:10: The sign isn't even necessary. It draws your attention to this being a regular intersection, and regular means right before left unless otherwise indicated - something the speeding biker obviously chose to ignore, despite the extra sign. And yes, please be aware of us cyclists - "Schulterblick" before turning right is very much appreciated! ;)

[@jensbarlau2256]

One more thing... If you are afraid to not pay attention to bikers when you open the door .. maybe try the dtcch way of opening you door and do it with you right hand instead of your left. Then you autmatically pay attention, because you have to turn around to open the door. Greetings from Gerresheim!

[@gregg.2551]

We rented a car there while on vacation from the US. It was fine outside of the city, but once we got into Munich it just became so stressful trying to figure out parking, signs, lane directions and intersections that didn't make any sense, so we just parked and left it in front of the hotel

[@lifeingermany_]

Hahah I can totally relate! That's why it took me SO long to start driving again 🙈 that and the judgement you get from Germans (have you taken a look at the comments on this video? ⬇️)

[@gregg.2551]

@@lifeingermany_ 😂😂😂 you gotta love natives who are experts in all things native 👏👏👏

[@flamedealership]

You know, all that talk about you being recommended of taking driving lessons reminded me of something I once heard on an American talk show. My personal talk show hero Craig Ferguson, a scottish comedian and later naturalized American, once described his experience of his US-American driving test: get in the car, drive around the block, don't shoot anybody and there you go... Now, I really don't know if the Canadian procedure is as "tough" as the American one. But if it is, my dear Jenna, I'm tempted to join the choir on their recommendation...😉😁💛💛💛 But I'm also sure that although I'm in possession of a drivers licence for over 40 years now I'd struggle with getting one today. Sure, I have the experience to be a road user without endangering anyone else, but all that pesky formulae you have to learn would escape me complete today.💛

[@bruckermusic]

And here in the Autobahn is mostly no speedlimut and in Canada people drive slowly

[@Mayagick]

Just take some voluntary driving lessons with a licenced instructor and the spots you feel insecure. 30km/h for a reason, not only cyclists, but a random ball and surely a kid will follow after. Furthermore some role play, do some cycling yourself and feel how it's to be overtaken too close.

[@lifeingermany_]

I totally get you! Cycling in Germany on roads where there is no cycling path is quite intimidating. Today, I had my 11 month old on the back of the bike for the first time and I was even more intimidated that I usually am. 😳

[@johnveerkamp1501]

you mast take driving lessons. in GERMANY.

[@johnveerkamp1501]

they have the best rules of the world the same as the Netherlands.

[@fahrlingo]

Hi Jenna! What a great video :D As a driving instructor, I'm sure I can clear some of your doubts. I would love to react on your video, if thats ok? All the best, Dario

[@lifeingermany_]

Yes of course! 🥰

[@michaela114]

This "crosswalks" are Überquerungshilfen - a help to cross the street because you only need to take care of one roadside, go to the middle and than again just have to take care of the cars from the other side... cars do not have to stop, you can but you don't have to.

[@pppetra]

This is where driving theory comes out and play. If you do not know..there is a rule about it. You have the rule, and i know an exception (Has to do with people using aids for blind people)

[@peterhartmann2460]

I like your casual talking style and also that you showing us your topic simultanously.

[@lifeingermany_]

Thanks so much 🥰

[@MichaelBurggraf-gm8vl]

Hello Jenna, watching your video has actually made me a bit nervous 😂 I'm not the first one to say that but please learn the road signs. It comes with a bonus though: road signs are quite rigorously standardized in Europe - hence they're quite the same all over Europe. That doesn't apply to traffic rules in general. You've been dashing over a yellow traffic light. That's ok in Germany but not in Austria for example.

[@nielsdebakker3283]

Around 4:40 a naughty white van driver overtakes grey car via the right lane.

[@neilfazackerley7758]

Am Anfang fand ich die Rechts vor Links Regeln verwirrend. Ich war auch ein paar Male geblitzt!

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

The signs are not that hard, then again I'm from the Netherlands and most signs are the same or similar.

[@gerhard6105]

Zo is het en de meeste zijn over de hele wereld hetzelfde.

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

@@gerhard6105 Niet de hele wereld, maar een groot aantal landen hebben vanaf het einde van de 60'er jaren een gezamenlijke internationale standaard aangenomen.

[@gerhard6105]

@@user-xi6nk4xs4s i know. Je weet wat ik bedoel. En ik schreef: de meeste.

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

@@gerhard6105 Ik geloof dat het minder dan 70 landen zijn, niet echt de meeste dus, maar wel een significant aantal.

[@gerhard6105]

@@user-xi6nk4xs4s ook goed. Hier een link: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Convention_on_Road_Signs_and_Signals

[@janbarriault4494]

i call them 'drive thrus,,, bonus points if it is next to cart corrals!!!

[@LiebeNachDland]

Fun little drive with you. Very cute that you mentioned you live in “the ghost/spirit of the sky” neighborhood. :}

[@joannunemaker6332]

I would have a hard time driving in Germany. I would need lessons to learn all those signs and getting used to the narrow roads.😊❤

[@reinhard8053]

@@MG-zt1sc There are some rare sign you might not know. But the large majority of sign must be known. Otherwise you will get fines or endanger yourself or others.

[@lbergen001]

On the positive side, they have a simple logical structure, so learning goes quite fast/easy.

[@lifeingermany_]

You and me both! 😜

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@reinhard8053"But the large majority of sign must be known. " I must admit i never learned many those signs. 40 years ago it was not necessary to do that in driving school. Only the most important which we already knew because we were raised with those. But the US have a completely different set of signs and signage.

[@reinhard8053]

@@wolfgangpreier9160 My driving school was also nearly 40 years ago. As far as I remember we needed to learn all the signs for the test. They were necessary to solve the situation questions. Some new ones came around but these often were in the newspapers or in the news.

[@gudrunasche9124]

Ich sage nur: andere Länder, andere Sitten. If I‘m living in a other country I have to learn a lot of things that go on a other way than in my country. (Sorry for my bad english).

[@hans-dieternichau5467]

Super Auto sehr praktisch ! Angst beim Autofahren ist nicht gut,aber was ich im Video gesehen habe brauchtst du auch keine Angst haben ! Hier in Deutschland geht es auch mit dem Fahren , in anderen Ländern ist es noch schwerer zum Beispiel Frankreich 😂😂

[@smu4242]

Others commented on the lessons already. I am wondering how this works for the license. A quick google suggests that a Canadian license is valid in Germany for only 6 months. But i didn't dive deep into it.

[@lifeingermany_]

A Canadian license is valid for 6 months, but if you switch the Canadian one to a German one before then, then you don’t have to take any classes or tests as a Canadian 🙈

[@flamedealership]

Hi Jenna, so you're back home again? Hey, take your time to come up to speed again - you've been gone for a quite a few days so I'd imagine your top priorities are not and shouldn't necessarily be entertaining us - get settled again first and foremost. Speaking of speed though, I'm afraid that i just have to be a little strict with you: don't record a video while driving a car, young lady! I know it looks cool and stuff but it is way too dangerous to do so! And yes, the Caddy is a hidious car in regards to optics. But it's one of the most practical cars as well. There is a reason why it's used by almost every "Mini-Car" company as a cab.😉💛💛

[@lifeingermany_]

Haha thank you 🥰 And don't worry! I had the phone attached to the car and never stopped/started the video camera while driving. 🙃 The video was a LOOOOONG one to edit and crop later on, but it made sure that I was safe. It was just like driving in the car with a friend next to me!

[@franciscardon223]

Buy the book traffic rules👈of the country

[@scotthodgen5647]

You definitely need to take a driving course. We know what all the these signs mean and the rules associated with them.

[@MaskedBishop]

I never went to driving school, don't have a car and don't know the meaning of those signs either, but I don't think it's a good idea to publicly admit that you don't know the rules if you want to keep your existing driver's license. 😅

[@jensbarlau2256]

What do you mean how many road signgs do you know... Of course you should know them all. Most of them are self-explanatory anyway.

[@Kelsea-2002]

Ich fand dieses Video sehr unterhaltsam. Wie kommt es eigentlich das eine Kanadierin in 9 Jahren kaum Auto gefahren ist? Ich dachte das wäre in euren Genen verankert. Übrigens ich finde den Caddy gar nicht hässlich und du hast auch noch tolle Felgen drauf.

[@gerhard6105]

Genau. Ich habe 14 Jahre Caddy gefahren hier in Holland und ich lobe die gute Wegliegung in die Kurve. Gutes Auto. Und wenn mann ein Führers hein hat, hat mann alle Strassenschilder gelernt. Wir in West Europa haben auch mehr Fahr(schul)stunden.

[@Kelsea-2002]

@@gerhard6105 Niederländer und Deutsche sind ja auch gute Autofahrer ... bis sie einen Wohnwagen hinten am Auto haben. Dann haben sie anscheinend alles verlernt.

[@gerhard6105]

@@Kelsea-2002 ich weiss: gestern habe ich 1200km Deutsche Autobahn gefahren und dann plötzlich fängt der Niederlander an zu überholen.... Die haben dann auch Ferien und haben es nicht eilig und wir lassen uns nicht (auf)hetzen ( wenn du hinter mir fährst hast du pech und muss du also warten. Geduld....). So ungefähr denken die. Und wir halten gut die 2 Sekonden Abstand auf das Fahrzeug vor uns. Belgen nicht, die können nur Stossstange kleben. Sehr gefährlich.

[@lifeingermany_]

Ich habe mir oft die gleiche Frage gestellt. 😹 Autofahren in Kanada unterscheidet sich stark vom Autofahren in Deutschland. Die Straßen hier sind kleiner, die Leute sind auch viel aggressiver auf den Straßen. In Kanada gibt es andere Regeln, aber auch viel Freiraum. Die Vorstellung, im Düsseldorfer Verkehr zu fahren und mitten in der Stadt einen Parkplatz suchen zu müssen, machte mir einfach Angst. Bei meinem deutschen Mann ist es jedoch genau umgekehrt. Er hasst es, in Kanada zu fahren, und es wäre ihm viel lieber, wenn ich fahre. Ganz zu schweigen davon, dass ich in Deutschland nie das Bedürfnis verspürte, Auto zu fahren. Der öffentliche Nahverkehr ist hier fantastisch! 🥰

[@roza9428]

Bad roads in Germany? Have you seen the roads in Ottawa Canada?

[@lbergen001]

You hardly see them...

[@lifeingermany_]

There are some terrible roads in Ontario, that's for sure! Although, I would say in the suburbs of Germany vs. suburbs of Ontario, German roads are in much poorer shape. However, that comment in my video was more about the difficulty of having to shop abruptly because others abruptly stop for these pot holes ahead of you and the roads are too tiny to drive around one another. Whereas in Canada, the road is typically open and you just drive around the pot holes. Haha!

[@roza9428]

This spring, I had a $1300 repair on my front left suspension because I hit a pothole on Carling Ave. in front of the Civic Hospital. Among others, large parts of Merivale Rd. are way worse.

[@mizapf]

@@lifeingermany_ It's really a matter of funding. The Autobahnen and Bundesstraßen are federal property and paid by the state, while the Länder are responsible for the Landesstraßen, and municipal streets fall into the budget of the respective town or city.

[@asidorov01]

Surprise, surprise. All of these signs are standard for european continent, including Russia, where I'm from. And please, tell us about CRAZY road signs in Montreal! These guys really made it specially harder to read for everyone else on the planet.

[@typxxilps]

Might be a question who had given you the driver's licence ? Might be time to change the rules to not give canadians the right to drive here except for vacations. You will learn each of the signs in the german driver academy and guess what: the faster you learn the less you have to pay If you like to pay less you will learn such signs easily and fast cause you have a motivation to learn.

[@markuskomann3108]

The rule is : You have to obtain a german driver`s license within 6 months after moving to germany. After that time your original license will be invalid. However Canadian licenses can be switched to a german license without doing additional tests. ( see Anlage 11 zur Fahrerlaubnis-Verordnung )

[@pok81]

@@markuskomann3108 Und genau das ist ja der Mist. Ich wäre dafür, dass jeder, der nicht in Deutschland seinen Führerschein gemacht hat, diesen hier neu zu machen hat. Fahrstunden werden's dann vmtl. ja eh nicht soviele wie bei einem Anfänger und Theoriestunden könnte man ja je nach Herkunftsland ggf. abkürzen. Jemand aus einem anderen EU-Land wird sicher weniger neu zu lernen haben als ein Nordamerikaner. Oder was unterscheidet einen Amerikaner jetzt genau von einem Fahranfänger in DE? Vmtl. hat der Fahranfänger aus DE sogar schon mehr Ahnung, weil er seine 17/18 Jahre davor schon mit dem ein oder anderen Verkehrszeichen Bekanntschaft gemacht hat.

[@pppetra]

You could use some german driving lessons and lessons on driving theory..

[@lifeingermany_]

You can say that again! 🤣

[@michaelschlueter3069]

IT IS a. Warning

[@pseudo_nym]

Haha hi Jenna, funny to see you struggle with all those signs as well. Even me born and raised in Düsseldorf don't know all the signs but surly the important once like the cross for the *"Rechts vor Links"* rule. You better don't miss this one (this rule is even valid if no sign is present) it could lead to serious accidents. So Himmelgeist it is - on one of my favourite _Longboard_ routs Along the river Rhein I actually pass close by. Just yesterday I did. Here is a quick sample of my recording I just edit for you to see. (It doesn't reveal your location since I don't know it myself 😊) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zmm6iZ-sapisjKs Nice having you back and I like to see a lot more of your Canada trip! So long!!!

[@lifeingermany_]

Super beautiful video! And couldn't agree more that Himmelgeist is a great cycling/long board route! 🥰 So close to the beach is such a treat!

[@pseudo_nym]

@@pok81 Du hast gerade selber geschrieben, dass Du nicht alle kennst. Und auch 99,9% sind nicht 100% Ich bin eben korrekt in meiner Aussage und Du trollst 😉

[@pok81]

@@pseudo_nym achja? Ich trolle? Was bist du denn für ein Vogel? Nein, du hast gesagt, du kennst nicht alle, aber auf jeden Fall die wichtigen. Das klingt nicht nach: Mir sind da mal 1 oder 2 durchgerutscht. Und die zwei von mir erwähnten hätte ich vmtl., selbst wenn ich sie zuvor nicht gekannt habe, richtig deuten können. So ein Hexenwerk sind die Dinger nicht.

[@pseudo_nym]

@@pok81 Ja passt schon! Over and out 🙋🏼‍♂️

[@brunopierre12345]

I was in Germany 2 weeks ago and rented a car from Stuttgart to Munich and I thought it would be easier to drive ... but road signs are nothing like in Quebec Canada ... a lot of them I had no idea what they meant!

[@pok81]

Das ist ja eh der Witz schlechthin, dass in Deutschland aus aller Herren Länder Leute mit ihren ausländischen Führerscheinen fahren dürfen, selbst wenn das so US-Spielzeug-Führerscheine sind, aber wir brauchen per Gesetz Tag-Fahrlicht und ab 2024 Autos, die bei jeder Tempoüberschreitung piepsen oder bremsen, weil das Fahren ja sonst zu unfallträchtig ist. Irgendwie stimmt da der Maßstab nicht.

[@chrism3784]

I thought Germany had the best roads I ever driven compared to others. Drive in Michigan, or New York and tell me about shitty roads

[@typxxilps]

6:25 - maybe canadian driving a F150 are simply kiling the environment day by day for driving a car far too big for what it is needed ? Add wider streets and multiply that with longer and wider parking lots you will learn that the canadian CO2 foot print per capita is far worse than that of a european citizen in the same climate zone. And the bigger the cities, the bigger the streets needed for the commuters who wants to see in his backyard and who wants to pay for ? Speckgürtel canadians are living for cheap outside the city and cause a lot of pollution outside their own home/town.

[@lifeingermany_]

I definitely can't argue that! 🙈 Although... for many in Canada, a F150 is very helpful for hauling those big loads on the insane rocky gravel roads outside of the cities! (but there are also an unnecessary amount in the city driving one "just because")

[@MrX-cd6be]

Please take some driving lessons. Learn the meaning of the signs. It did not look too good. Turninmg your steering on the inside of the wheel is something they teach you not to do. If you want to learn how to drive among bicycles come to Amsterdam.

[@karlgunterwunsch1950]

You are a driving menace for not knowing the rules and signs, go take some driving lessons!

[@thorz7304]

That poor handbrake.

[@lifeingermany_]

😂😂