You experience a breakdown outside of a built-up area. Your car is situated on the carriageway, behind a bend in the road. Which is correct in this situation?

In Germany, if your vehicle breaks down outside a built-up area and is located on the carriageway, especially behind a bend where visibility is limited, it is mandatory to take several safety measures to warn other drivers and prevent accidents.

First, switching on your hazard lights (warning flashers) signals to other road users that your vehicle is stationary and may pose a hazard.

Second, placing at least one warning triangle about 100 meters behind your car alerts drivers approaching from behind in good time, allowing them to slow down and react safely. The distance is important to ensure adequate warning before the bend where your car is hidden.

Third, wearing a hi-vis vest when leaving your vehicle increases your visibility to other drivers, enhancing your personal safety, especially in poor lighting or low visibility conditions.

These combined measures comply with German traffic regulations aimed at protecting both the stranded driver and other road users. Neglecting any of these can increase the risk of accidents. Therefore, performing all three actions is necessary whenever possible in such situations.