A pilot crashed his light aircraft into a truck on Saturday after being forced to carry out an emergency landing on an autobahn bridge used by cars, local police confirmed in a statement.
The 72-year-old had been flying from France to the Netherlands, over the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, when his single-engine began to fail and he had to quickly decide when to bring the aircraft down.
He landed on the Schwarzbachtalbrücke — a 100-meter (328 feet) high bridge close to the city of Pirmasens in western Germany, on the border with France.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
The sky’s the limit
The only European country without a general speed limit on most parts of its highways, Germany nonetheless has an excellent network of motorways. They are generally well-maintained, inviting you to explore them. The minimum age for obtaining a driver’s license used with a legal guardian present in Germany is 17. An unrestricted car driver’s license can be granted at age 18.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
Bracing yourself
According to statistics by ADAC, Germany’s national automobile association, traffic jams increased by around 15 percent in 2016 as compared to the previous year. That’s a lot for a relatively small country. The increase resulted from both more cars on the highway, and more construction sites. So brace yourself for more time and stress in the car, especially around big cities.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
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 don’t let pushy drivers bully you!
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How to navigate the German autobahn
Smile for the camera!
Watch out for speed cameras! They are used widely in Germany, from the autobahn to inner city areas. These box-shaped devices are installed next to the road, and will often catch you unawares. Should you be driving over the speed limit, a ticket will be sent to your house, complete with a picture of you at the wheel and the license plate confirming your offense.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
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 100 euros ($124) and get a one-point penalty against your driver’s license. Penalties spike up if you cause an accident, and you may have your license revoked. Fines were raised in 2017. Investing in a hands-free car kit is smarter. Penalties also apply to bicyclists using their cell phones.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
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, even before you see the flashing lights behind you. If not, you could be fined at least 200 euros (around $250) and get points on your license. The emergency lane is always between the far left and the rest of the lanes.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
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.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
Driving under the influence
In Germany, there’s zero tolerance for beginners, as well as for professional drivers. There’s a 0.05 percent blood alcohol content (BAC) limit to driving under the influence. Bicyclists may not exceed 0.16 percent. Penalties start at a €500 ($623) fine, points off your license and even a one-month license suspension. Best bet: don’t drink and drive!
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How to navigate the German autobahn
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.
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How to navigate the German autobahn
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!
Author: Louisa Schaefer
On the bridge, his plane crashed into an oncoming truck. The pilot was left with light injuries while the truck driver came away unscathed, police said.
Numerous emergency service personnel were quick to arrive at the scene.
The whole road had to be completely closed off while police cleared the fuel and took the plane apart. The lanes had been cleared by evening, local newspaper Die Rheinpfalz reported.
Authorities estimated the cost of the incident to amount to around €60,000 ($68,000).
DPA contributed to this story.
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Germany’s Bridges
Ancient Roman remains
This Roman Bridge spanning the Moselle in Trier is the oldest standing bridge in Germany. It was originally made of wood, but the Romans later replaced it with stone and basalt from the nearby Eifel Mountains. The stone pillars that remain today date back to the 2nd century AD. The upper half was renovated in the 12th century and again in the 18th century after bombing by French troops.
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Germany’s Bridges
Explosive potential
Built in 1963 during the Cold War, The Fehmarn Sound Bridge was embedded with explosive vaults due of concerns about a potential invasion. The bridge spans across a section of the Baltic Sea, linking the island of Fehmarn with the north-eastern tip of the German mainland. The six vaults beneath the road on the mainland side were connected to a nearby control point.
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Germany’s Bridges
Erfurt’s Medieval past
Grocers once sold their wares from stands here, at a time when Krämerbrücke was part of the Via Regia trade route running through the Holy Roman Empire. Today the colorful bridge over the Gera River is lined on both sides with galleries and artisan shops. The Krämerbrückenfest town festival celebrating Medieval times takes place around the bridge and old town each June.
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Germany’s Bridges
Roofed road to Switzerland
Some early wooden bridges had roofs to protect the main structure from the elements. The Holzbrücke (wooden bridge) over the Rhine connects Bad Säckingen in Germany with the Swiss town of Stein. It was built in 1272 but suffered damage from floods during the Middle Ages. This current version was completed in 1700. At almost 204 meters (670 feet) it is the longest roofed wooden bridge in Europe.
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Germany’s Bridges
Arches across the Göltzsch
The expansion of railway lines across Germany in the 1800s posed new engineering challenges. The Göltzch Viaduct, built across the Göltzsch Valley in Saxony, was considered an extremely ambitious project, mainly because of its scale and impressive archways. It was the tallest railway bridge in the world at the time it opened in 1851 and remains the largest brick-built bridge in the world.
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Germany’s Bridges
Bridge through nature
Bridges can provide access to otherwise unattainable places. In 1851 the sandstone Bastei Bridge was built in Saxon Switzerland National Park, making it possible for visitors to wander among giant rock formations almost 200 meters (660 feet) above the Elbe River. Masses of tourists flock to the park each year to see the towering sandstone pillars and panoramic forest views.
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Germany’s Bridges
Remagen’s ruins
The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen became a strategically important channel into Nazi Germany during World War Two. It was captured by US troops in March 1945 and miraculously survived repeated Nazi bombing raids. Ten days after its capture, however, the bridge collapsed into the Rhine, killing a number of soldiers. The surviving bridge towers, seen here, have been turned into a peace museum.
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Germany’s Bridges
Double-decker divider
When the Berlin Wall was built in 1961, the Oberbaum Bridge became part of the border separating the city’s east from west. Armed guards patrolled the banks of the River Spree and manned the bridge’s crossover checkpoint. Today the double-decker structure connects the districts of Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg and has become a landmark symbol of city’s unity after the wall fall in 1989.
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Germany’s Bridges
Cologne’s love locks
Hohenzollern Bridge was the only bridge in Cologne to survive airstrikes during World War Two. Today, this Rhine crossing is facing an onslaught of a different kind. Tens of thousands of couples have hung padlocks on the bridge’s frame as a symbol of their love. The weight of the love locks is estimated to be more than two tonnes.
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Germany’s Bridges
Water under (and over) the bridge
After reunification, work began to open up water transport routes across Germany. The Magdeburg Water Bridge was completed in 2003 at a cost of around 500 million euros ($675 million) giving transport ships a shortcut between the Elbe-Havel and Mittelland canals. This water bridge spans more than 900 meters (3,000 feet) across the Elbe River, making it the largest navigable aqueduct in the world.
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Germany’s Bridges
Connecting three countries
As its name suggests, the Three Countries Bridge crosses three national borders, from Weil am Rhein in Germany, via Switzerland, to Huningue in France. The 248 meter (800 foot) structure was built in 2007 over the Rhine and is the longest bridge exclusively for pedestrians and cyclists in the world. It was awarded the German Bridge Construction Prize in 2008.
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Germany’s Bridges
Mega Legos
This humble decommissioned railway bridge in the city of Wuppertal is hardly a prime example of architectural design, but it did attract some buzz after graffiti artist Martin Heuwold gave it a makeover in 2011. The artist worked with a team of unemployed people to transform dull concrete into giant colorful Lego bricks.
Author: Natalie Muller
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