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Total drink-drive ban on political agenda

Three years after the introduction of a complete drink-driving ban for drivers in their first two years behind the wheel and all those under 21, calls are being made for the ban to be extended.

Published: 18 July 2010 10:04 CEST
Total drink-drive ban on political agenda
Photo: DPA

A survey commissioned by the Transport Ministry shows the number of accidents involving personal injury where alcohol was involved had declined by 12 percent in 2008, a year after the ban was enacted.

The number of alcohol-related accidents in which beginner drivers were involved sank by 15 percent, according to details of the survey published in the Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

“I am clearly in favour of a 0.0 pro-mille limit for all car drivers, no matter what age. No-one can objectively estimate their blood alcohol level after one or two glasses of beer,” Wolfgang Böhmer, minister president of Saxony Anhalt told the paper.

“That is why I am in favour of a clear line. Then every driver knows where they are.”

The current limit for drivers not affected by the complete ban is 0.5 pro-mille.

Saxony Anhalt’s state transport minister Karl-Heinz Daehre is set to put the topic on the agenda for discussion at his next conference with state transport ministers, the paper adds.

He and Böhmer are both members of the Christian Democratic Union, but received support for the idea from a number of top Social Democratic Party members, including transport minister in Mecklenburg Pomerania Volker Schlotmann, who said, “The zero pro-mille limit would save lives.”

He has suggested initially expanding the group of those affected by the limit to those between 21 and 25. “That would be a start, as members of this age group are still more frequently involved in accidents,” he said.

This idea was supported by Kurt Bodewig, former federal transport minister and currently president of the Deutsche Verkehrswacht, an organisation which promotes road safety.

But the idea of extending the ban on drink-driving has been rejected by motoring organisation ADAC, which told the Welt am Sonntag a complete ban would be neither reasonable nor enforceable.

ADAC president Peter Meyer said it would be better to have more checks to better enforce the current limit. “If one can pretty much rely on there being no checks, the legal limit only plays a minimal role,” he said.

Peter Ramsauer, federal transport minister, supports the current situation but the paper says has rejected the idea of extending the complete man.

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DRIVING

What are the rules around driving a friend or relative’s car in Germany?

If you want to travel around in Germany, a friend, relative or maybe a neighbour might offer you their vehicle to use. But what does the law say about driving someone else's car in Germany?

Published: 11 September 2024 15:48 CEST
Updated: 12 September 2024 10:33 CEST
What are the rules around driving a friend or relative's car in Germany?

Many people in Germany do not have a car, especially those living in larger cities where public transport works well.

However, sometimes you might need one, whether it is to transport something or maybe to go on a trip through the country.

Fortunately, even if you do not own a car yourself, you can still drive someone else’s vehicle, whether it belongs to a relative, friend, or maybe a neighbour. You can obviously also rent one from a rental agency or through carsharing.

Valid licence and approval from owner

In Germany, motor vehicle liability insurance – or Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung – is linked to the vehicle and not to the driver. This means that the owner’s insurance normally covers anyone who drives the car – as long as they have permission and the insurance policy allows it.

Therefore, in principle, you can drive someone else’s car if you have the owner’s permission and, of course, a valid driver’s license.

However, you still need to read the fine print on the car’s insurance policy to make sure it doesn’t have any particular restrictions on additional drivers, as some policies might specify who is allowed to drive. Some policies will only allow one person to drive: the policyholder. If the policy allows additional drivers, you’re typically good to go.

This is also important if you rent a car in Germany. If you do, you’ll need to declare every driver who may potentially drive it and provide their licence information. If you plan on driving the car outside Germany, you’ll need to declare where. This typically increases the cost of the rental. If you use a carsharing service, only you can typically drive the car you’re renting.

While borrowing someone’s car, you should also have the vehicle’s registration documents and proof of insurance. If you forget the documents, you might need to pay a fine or face complications in the case of an accident or a ticket.

If an accident occurs, you need to contact the car owner. The owner’s insurance company will handle claims or damages.

READ ALSO: EU countries to extend range of offences foreign drivers can be fined for

Valid licence in Germany

To drive someone else’s – or indeed anyone’s – car in Germany, you need to have a valid licence.

If you have a valid German or another EU licence, this is straightforward.

EU driving licences on a table.

EU driving licences on a table. Having a valid licence is a legal requirement for driving in Germany. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sina Schuldt

If you have a non-EU licence, you can typically drive on it in Germany for the first six months you’re here.

After six months of legal residence in Germany, you won’t be able to drive on your non-EU licence. You will need to convert your non-EU licence to a German one. You can check out The Local’s guide for how this is done.

READ ALSO: How do I convert my foreign driver’s licence into a German one?

Car insurance in Germany

If you own a vehicle in Germany, you’re required to have insurance on it.

The cost of your car insurance is based on a wide range of factors, such as driving experience, car engine size, and location.

Inexperienced drivers, high-powered cars, and drivers living in urban areas typically face higher insurance premiums.

Maintaining a no-claim driving record will lead to a lower fee, as it often leads to lower insurance premiums with your next insurer.

Car insurance premiums can vary quite widely in Germany.

You might be able to get some premiums for €400 a year or even lower. But again, this depends on the make and model of your car, its current estimated value, how old it is, how much experience you have driving and a host of other factors – including whether you allow additional drivers on it.

READ NEXT: Why drivers in Germany could face hike in car insurance rates next year

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