What should you do?

In this situation, the German traffic rules require that you continue driving as usual when approaching an exit ramp on the Autobahn, unless there are clear reasons to stop or change your behavior, such as a breakdown or an emergency. The hard shoulder (Seitenstreifen) is reserved only for emergencies, breakdowns, or when traffic authorities specifically instruct drivers to use it—never for forming a queue or waiting to enter an exit. Stopping on your own lane of the highway just because a jam is visible on the exit ramp is dangerous and prohibited, as it creates a hazard for following traffic.

The correct action is to maintain your lane and speed according to traffic conditions until you are safely in the deceleration lane or exit ramp, where you may then slow down if there is a traffic jam ahead. This ensures the main highway continues to operate safely and efficiently. The other options—forming a queue on the hard shoulder or stopping on the travel lane—are both unsafe and against German rules.