ADAC Anticipates Heavy Traffic and Delays for First Weekend of Summer Vacation

As summer vacation approaches, the ADAC has issued a warning regarding anticipated heavy traffic and potential congestion on the roads in Berlin and Brandenburg. With the start of the summer holidays this weekend, travelers can expect significant delays, particularly towards popular destinations such as the coasts, the Alps, and southern regions.

The first weekend of the vacation period, spanning from July 25 to July 27, is traditionally one of the busiest times of the summer travel season. This year, the situation is compounded by the fact that several other regions, including Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein, will also be commencing their holidays, further contributing to traffic congestion.

Although the influx of travelers from southern Germany will not begin until early August, the ADAC warns that the roads will still be heavily trafficked due to returning vacationers from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia. The organization has identified several routes that are likely to be particularly prone to delays, including major highways leading to and from the North and Baltic Seas, the A2 between Berlin and Hanover, the A9, the Berliner Ring, the A11 connecting Berlin to Dreieck Uckermark, and the A24.

Moreover, construction work on various highways, including the Berliner Ring, A115, A100, and A9, is expected to exacerbate the traffic situation. Travelers planning to head abroad should also be aware that routes traversing the Alps and Karawanken, as well as access roads to coastal areas in Italy, Croatia, and France, will be heavily congested during the summer months.

Additionally, those traveling to and from Poland may experience increased wait times at border crossings such as the A12 in Frankfurt (Oder) and the A15 in Forst due to sporadic checks.

The ADAC advises that the highest likelihood of traffic jams will occur on Friday afternoons between 2 PM and 6 PM. Similar delays are expected on Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons. To mitigate travel times, the ADAC recommends that travelers embark on their journeys early on Saturday or in the afternoon. For those traveling on Sunday, departing early in the morning or after 7 PM is advisable.

During times of road construction, the ADAC emphasizes the importance of adhering to the zipper merge method, encouraging drivers to proceed to the end of the lane before merging efficiently. Maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles and refraining from overtaking are also critical. In the event of accidents, drivers should create a rescue lane as soon as traffic begins to slow down.