On 17 June, when the German national football team kicks its campaign off at the World Cup in Russia, motorcade season will be upon us again. Roads across Germany will play host to jubilation whenever the German national XI wins a game – or even goes one better. However, legally speaking, motorcade celebrations like this aren’t actually permitted.
The motorcade can trace its origins to Southern Europe. So-called “guest workers” from Turkey, Greece and Italy (among others) migrated to Germany and introduced the concept of celebrating in convoys with beeping horns. Since then, motorcades take to the streets to celebrate (more or less) spontaneously after each victory for the national team – whichever one that may happen to be. This involves a good deal of enthusiastic horn-honking, singing and flag-waving. All of that makes at least as much noise as several air horns or vuvuzelas going off at the same time.
Road traffic regulations are a killjoy for a motorcade
Casting an objective eye on the matter, German road traffic regulations in general – and particularly Paragraph 30 – put a spanner in the works for such unbridled celebration. The first two clauses of Paragraph 30 turn out to be a real killjoy. They state the following: “When using vehicles, unnecessary noise and avoidable exhaust pollution are prohibited. In particular, it is prohibited to leave vehicle engines running unnecessarily [...].”
It also states that “pointlessly driving to and fro is prohibited within built-up areas if others are bothered by this.” As such, events involving motor vehicles require permission if they are likely to breach the peace at night.
Those who participate in motorcades thus risk being slapped with a fine of between €10 and €35. Nonetheless, the police tend to turn a blind eye and generally only intervene if an imminent danger is posed to road traffic.
The rules of the motorcade
Those who stick to the following rules can keep their risk of being pulled over for a telling-off to a minimum:
- Do not lean out of the vehicle’s windows
- Do not sit on the bonnet, the roof, the rear end of the vehicle or in open boots
- Keep your seatbelts fastened
- Do not drink and drive
- Pay attention to traffic lights and road signs
- Flags are not permitted to impair visibility or cover the vehicle’s lights or wing mirrors
- Exercise caution when waving flags out of the vehicle because this may injure or impede pedestrians or cyclists
- Do not carry more passengers than there are seats provided in the vehicle
- Maintain safe distances from other vehicles
One more tip!
The threat of a fine is one thing, but insurance cover is quite another. Particularly when leaning out of a moving car, you must bear in mind that doing so may void insurance cover in the event of an accident.
And, on that note, we wish you all a lot of fun watching the footie and celebrating in your cars afterwards!
Margin column: Don’t miss your chance to win an original Germany kit and tickets for the Nations League fixture between Germany and France! This way to our World Cup competition!