Planning a Trip to Germany — Any Model Exhibitions Worth Visiting?

[Jakko]

No we didn't, that was the EU made that rule

I can't find anymore where I read this once, but AFAIK the EU made that rule because the UK wanted it.

Mostly though because I'm NOT afraid of foreigners!

+1

 

[Jakko]

traveling in Europe definitely comes with its own set of rules and quirks!

TBH, once you're through passport control at an external border (for Americans: be sure to take the lane for non-Schengen citizens, AKA "foreigners" ), you can go where you like within the Schengen area without any hassle at the border — except for the fact that some countries (chiefly Germany) have been instituting checks at borders with other EU countries again. This despite these being illegal except if they're temporary and for a specific purpose. (Germany, of course, claims they are. IMHO they should be told to stop it.)

Other than that, if you intend to drive in Europe then it's probably mainly traffic rules and especially traffic signs you will want to read up on before you go. About the only traffic sign you'll see that's familiar to you, will be STOP. And there will be far fewer of those than in North America, because there pretty much are no four-way stops in Europe. Instead, get over your fear of roundabouts

 

[Potaka]

TBH, once you're through passport control at an external border (for Americans: be sure to take the lane for non-Schengen citizens, AKA "foreigners" ), you can go where you like within the Schengen area without any hassle at the border — except for the fact that some countries (chiefly Germany) have been instituting checks at borders with other EU countries again. This despite these being illegal except if they're temporary and for a specific purpose. (Germany, of course, claims they are. IMHO they should be told to stop it.)

Other than that, if you intend to drive in Europe then it's probably mainly traffic rules and especially traffic signs you will want to read up on before you go. About the only traffic sign you'll see that's familiar to you, will be STOP. And there will be far fewer of those than in North America, because there pretty much are no four-way stops in Europe. Instead, get over your fear of roundabouts

Thanks for the heads-up! I'll definitely brush up on traffic signs—and mentally prepare for the roundabouts I had no idea STOP signs were such a rarity in Europe. As for border checks… sounds like a bit of a moving target, but I'll keep my passport handy just in case!

 

[Jakko]

I had no idea STOP signs were such a rarity in Europe.

They usually appear only where it's important enough. Most places, though, the rule is to give way (yield) to traffic coming from your right, if you approach at approximately the same time. And note that this includes cyclists, not just cars and motorbikes. If you are required to give way to traffic from both directions, there will be a triangular white sign with a red border, point down, and at least in Germany and the Netherlands, usually a row of triangles painted across the road:

 

[Edbert]

In America, traffic rules say that the minivan has the right-of-way over the moped. Since they both have yield signs (similar rule if both had stop signs) the person turning left always yields to those going straight.

At a stop the 1st person can proceed before the 2nd person regardless of left-turn rules. But with both having a yield, or if both have a green light, left -turners always yield.

Same?

 

[Jakko]

In America, traffic rules say that the minivan has the right-of-way over the moped. Since they both have yield signs (similar rule if both had stop signs) the person turning left always yields to those going straight.

In Europe, it's the same: the grey car has right of way because the other two are coming from a street with a give way sign (and painted triangles on the road to make this more obvious). The police car (the one I think you mean by the minivan ) has right of way over the moped, like you say because the moped is turning left while the police car wants to go straight through.

At a stop the 1st person can proceed before the 2nd person regardless of left-turn rules.

This would be very rare situation in Europe, AFAIK, because like I said there are very few stops signs, and pretty much never on two adjacent sides of a crossroads. At best, there would be stop signs instead of the two give-way ones in the picture. Situations where the USA would have four-way stops are almost certainly roundabouts, either full-size ones or mini-roundabouts that are just painted on the middle of the crossroads. Which means you just give way to every vehicle already on the roundabout until there's room for you to enter it (and use your turn signals when approaching the street you want to take off the roundabout, but not before, so drivers waiting at the next one can see they won't need to wait for you).

But with both having a yield, or if both have a green light, left -turners always yield.

Yes.

 

[Potaka]

They usually appear only where it's important enough. Most places, though, the rule is to give way (yield) to traffic coming from your right, if you approach at approximately the same time. And note that this includes cyclists, not just cars and motorbikes. If you are required to give way to traffic from both directions, there will be a triangular white sign with a red border, point down, and at least in Germany and the Netherlands, usually a row of triangles painted across the road:

View attachment 151390

They usually appear only where it's important enough. Most places, though, the rule is to give way (yield) to traffic coming from your right, if you approach at approximately the same time. And note that this includes cyclists, not just cars and motorbikes. If you are required to give way to traffic from both directions, there will be a triangular white sign with a red border, point down, and at least in Germany and the Netherlands, usually a row of triangles painted across the road:

View attachment 151390

Thanks for the detailed explanation! I'll definitely keep an eye out for those signs and the priority rules, especially for cyclists—good to know they're included. Roundabouts and different traffic customs always take some getting used to, but that's part of the fun of driving in Europe, right? Appreciate the heads-up!

 

[Jakko]

As long as you take care not to appear in a video like this, you'll be fine

 

[Potaka]

As long as you take care not to appear in a video like this, you'll be fine

Haha, noted! I'll make sure to stay out of viral videos—and definitely won't try to drive on the left side of the road in Germany! Thanks for the laugh.