German police wanted to test how many people would stop to help to blood-soaked actresses trapped in a car. Police said they were shocked by how few people were ready to come to the rescue.
File photo of an actual car accidentImage: picture-alliance/dpa/Wiesbaden112.de/S. Stenzel
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German police set up a fake road accident on national road safety day to test the response of passing traffic, they said on Wednesday.
Police in Oberhavel, in the eastern German state of Brandenburg, teamed up with a local media agency to stage a fake car accident complete with two victims. They wanted to see how many people would stop to help the two young ladies who were still in the vehicle.
The actresses and the car itself were smeared in blood to make it seem more realistic.
Seven hidden cameras were trained on the scene as police hid further up the road and pulled over cars that didn't stop to help.
Police did not inform duped drivers who had stopped that it was fake until they were well into the process of helping. One helper even ended up in tears, according to the press release.
One couple pulled over, called the 112 emergency number, and were comforting the young actresses, according to local newspaper Märkische Allgemeine.
In another case, a motorcyclist desperately waved down two other road users, who then approached the car with a first aid kit and tried to help, the agency's video shows.
A bill on a road toll for cars using Germany's highways has cleared a final hurdle from regional states despite a lack of exceptions for border regions. The nation's autobahn network is unlikely to lose its attraction.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte
Oldest highway
Berlin's inner-city AVUS is widely considered to be Germany's oldest autobahn. It was built between 1913 and 1921. Back then, it was only 10 km (6.2 miles) long. And because it was so short, many call the AVUS an autobahn prototype.
Image: Getty Images/S. Gallup
'Vehicles-only road'
The first "proper" autobahn in Germany went into operation on August 6, 1932, connecting Cologne and Bonn. Literally translated, the highway was officially called "vehicles-only road." Today, the stretch is part of the A555 autobahn.
Image: DW/M. Nelioubin
Debunking the Hitler myth
Historians make a point of emphasizing that the myth about Adolf Hitler commissioning the building of the first German autobahn is just that - a myth. The highway mentioned in the previous slide was a project initiated by the then lord mayor of Cologne, Konrad Adenauer.
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Highway 1 - the champion
A look at national statistics around the globe reveals that Australia boasts the longest highway. Its National Highway (also known as Highway 1) spans the whole continent, having a total length of well over 14,000 km (8,700 miles).
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Amazing network
Germany for its part is known for one of the densest highway networks with a total length of roughly 13,000 km (8,077 miles). While this makes up only 6 percent of all long-distance roads in the country, almost a third of total road traffic depends on it.
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Looming highway toll
German Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt hopes the introduction of a passenger car toll for highways in Germany will wash around 500 million euros ($535 million) into state coffers annually. Opponents argue that's a myth, citing enormous infrastructure costs to collect the toll.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Büttner
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How many people stopped
Police said they were shocked that 90 percent of passing traffic did not stop. Police said they had expected at least half to help.
Police Commissioner Robert Müller said: "Many drivers could not explain why they hadn't stopped and helped," as quoted by Märkische Allgemeine. He said conversations with drivers revealed almost everyone knew how important first aid measures are after an accident, but that drivers nonetheless drove on.
Excuses reportedly included not being able to brake fast enough and wanting to stop at the next opportunity.
Police criticized
A legal expert in the Bundestag, Michael Frieser of the conservative Bavarian Christian Social Union criticized the faked accident in comments to the national paper Bild.
"If the police carry out such actions, they should always do so together with traffic clubs such as the ADAC or the ACE. Because this form of road safety education cannot be their job," he said.
But police defended the action as necessary. "Public relations are a very important aspect in raising people's awareness of such situations and explaining how to act correctly in an emergency," Andre Quade, who headed the local police team on that day, told the local paper.
"If you want to reach people, you have to show reality. And reality is actually even harder. The number of accidents is constantly increasing. Not only in Brandenburg, but also in other federal states," a police spokesperson told Bild.
Germany is famous the world over not just for its cars, but also for its highways. Here are some tips before you put the pedal to the metal.
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The sky's the limit
The only country in the European Union without a general speed limit on many parts of its highways, Germany has an excellent network of motorways. They are generally well-maintained, inviting you to explore them. The minimum age for obtaining a learner's license with a legal guardian present in the car in Germany is 17. An unrestricted car driver's license can be obtained at age 18.
Image: Imago/Horst Galuschka
Not a Nazi invention
The A555 between Cologne and Bonn was Germany's first "intersection-free motor road." Konrad Adenauer, mayor of Cologne and subsequent West German chancellor, officially opened the first section in August 1932 — clearly negating the frequent assumption that the Autobahn was a Nazi invention, as the Nazis didn't come to power until the following year.
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Bracing yourself
According to statistics by ADAC, Germany's national automobile association, German roads experienced a record 745,000 traffic jams in 2018, due to more cars on the highway and increased construction sites. The number of traffic jams haven't been quite as high since the COVID pandemic started, as many people continued to work from home.
Image: Getty Images/S. Gallup
Tailgaters
Even when you think you're soaring down the Autobahn, you may get the distinct impression it's still not fast enough. Some German drivers may drive right up behind you and try to "push" you over. They may even flash their headlights to rattle your nerves. You aren't supposed to block the "fast" lane — the aim being to only use it for passing. But pushy drivers may still try to bully you!
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Smile for the camera!
Watch out for speed cameras! They are used widely in Germany, from the Autobahn to inner-city areas. The box-shaped devices are installed next to the road, and could catch you unawares. Should you be speeding, a ticket will be sent to your home, complete with a picture of you at the wheel and your license plate number. Sometimes, cars on the side of the road will record your speeding offense.
Image: Horst Galuschka/dpa/picture alliance
Cell phones a no-no
Holding a cell phone in your hand while driving is an absolute no-no. If caught, you could be fined and get penalty points against your driver's license. Penalties spike up if you cause an accident, and you could have your license revoked. Investing in a hands-free car kit is smarter. Penalties also apply to cyclists using their cell phones.
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Make way for help
The same thing goes for not making way for emergency vehicles. Once traffic jams up, you are required to create a lane for ambulances and police to get through. If not, you block the emergency space, and you could be fined and get points against your license. The emergency lane is always between the far left and the rest of the lanes.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Stratenschulte
Be on the alert
You are also required to set up a warning signal should you break down or have an accident. This means placing an orange metal triangle on the road, donning a fluorescent jacket, both of which you must have in your car. You must also have a first-aid kit stored in your vehicle, and since February 2023, the kits must contain two surgical masks.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Gentsch
Driving under the influence
In Germany, there's zero alcohol tolerance for beginners, those under 21, as well as for professional drivers. There's a 0.05% blood alcohol content (BAC) limit to driving under the influence. Penalties start at a €500 ($623) fine, points against your license, license suspension, or worse depending on the alcohol level in your blood. Limits also apply to cyclists. Best bet: Don't drink and drive!
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Snow tires
Snow tires are required once streets become slick with slush, ice or snow. In Germany, the rule of thumb is that this can occur anytime between October and Easter. Should you not have snow tires installed on your car and still drive on slippery streets, you could be fined and have points taken off your license. Without proper snow tires, your insurance may also not cover an accident.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/F. Kästle
A relaxed approach
To navigate both the German Autobahn and city streets, the best approach is a zen one: take your time and don't let yourself get frazzled. Besides, with an expansive train and public transportation system in the country, you might not even want to hop into your car, but board a train and put up your feet!