Corona and driving a car – this now applies!

Whether we like it or not, corona has a firm grip on our lives. Clear rules, such as the obligation to wear a mask or the minimum distance, should help to ensure that normality can soon return to our everyday lives. Other rules and regulations around corona are less clear, as in the matter of corona and driving a car. What is allowed, what is not? Here are the rules you have to follow, what to look out for, and helpful information. Let’s get started!

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Corona and driving a car – this applies in the lockdown

Even though the federal government is trying to find a uniform set of rules, health is ultimately a matter for the individual states. This has to do with the sovereignty of the states and is anchored in our constitution. This is the reason why there have been no nationwide rules so far.

Here now comes the corona emergency brake into play: it was brought into being and is valid since the end of april 2021. It is intended to provide a uniform set of federal rules and help prevent a third lockdown. This emergency brake Certainly temporary the measures and limits, which until then the individual federal states had set. It is to remain in force until the end of june 2021 and includes rules on:

  • Curfews
  • Contact restrictions of households
  • Openings of stores
  • Permission from services
  • Travel and tourism

Corona and car driving – curfew and travel restrictions

Especially for motorists, the curfew and travel restrictions are important issues where you want clarity. When is it allowed to drive? Which rules apply? You can find out now!

Curfew and driving – this applies

The curfew is imposed in all cities and municipalities, whose incidence value above a certain value lies.

Good to know: this value was up to now different from federal state to federal state. For example, the figure was over 100 in bavaria, saxony or brandenburg. In lower saxony or baden-wurttemberg, this was as high as 150 before an exit ban was imposed.

Now there is a uniform incidence value in the course of the emergency brake:

  • At 100 new infections with 100.000 inhabitants on three consecutive days from the next day there will be general curfew.
  • This will lifted, if on 5 subsequent days a value below 100 has been established.

Here’s what the curfew means for motorists

Normally, people are not allowed to leave their homes after 10 p.m. if there is a curfew in place. This also applies to driving! Without good cause you are allowed during a curfew do not drive.

  • The exit barrier applies as a rule until 5 o’clock in the morning.

However, there are exceptions, z. B.:

  • In the event of a medical emergency or treatment that cannot be postponed
  • In case of danger to life and limb
  • To be able to practice your profession
  • For the care and assistance of minors or people in need of care
  • On animal care

Driving a car in spite of an exit ban: these penalties are imminent

If you drive your car for no reason after the curfew has started – and get caught – it can be expensive. 500 € here are the rules.

By the way: it can become even more expensive. for example, because it is a repeat offence or you have violated the infection protection act (ifsg). Z. B. By unauthorized assembly, violation of the mask obligation, or the like. Then the fine catalog of the ifsg takes effect.

  • Depending on the nature of the offence, a fine of fine between 2.500 € until 25.000 € are due.
  • intent and negligence are punished in the same way.
  • If you want to read more about this, just click on previous link.

Corona and travel at home and abroad

If the destination of your car journey is not another federal state, but one of our neighboring countries, the matter is even more complicated. Strict corona rules apply to border traffic. In addition to the regulations of the Federal Republic of Germany, you must also take into account the laws and regulations of the other country you are traveling to. Which rules apply for which countries, you can find out at the foreign office.

entry to germany – this is valid for commuters and co.

Depending on the EU country you are entering from and the federal state you are driving to, different regulations apply. Besides quarantine, a negative corona test before departure and many other measures, a digital entry registration may be necessary. The latter you must be able to show on request by control authorities.

If you are returning from abroad, there may be even stricter entry rules for countries that are so-called high-incidence areas.

According to the RKI, the current (as of 11.05.2021) high incidence areas in europe:

  • Poland
  • Czech Republic
  • France
  • Netherlands

A distinction is made between:

  • daily commuter: you are entering germany for work within 24 hours or. Again from.
  • cross-border commuteryou are resident in germany, but work or study in another EU country. But you will return to germany regularly, at least once a week.
  • Cross-border commutersyou live in another EU country, but you work or study in germany. You go home regularly, at least 1x a week.

To make sure you can enter without problems, you need to know the information of both ministries!

Driving with a mouth guard – this is permitted

It is well known that you must wear a mask when shopping and on public transportation. But what about in your own car? You also have to use a mask at the wheel? Find out now. So read on quickly!

Mandatory masks for drivers: these masks are allowed

Not all masks are created equal. And not all types of masks are allowed!

  • If you drive a car and wear a commercially available face mask, z. B. A FFP2 mask or green resp. White disposable masks (surgical masks), this is allowed.
  • Here you can see the eyes and the forehead despite the covered mouth-nose-area. And this is enough for identification of your person in road traffic.

Other masks, such as. B.:

  • Homemade masks, that cover large parts of the face
  • balaclavas
  • gas masks o.a.

Are forbidden. They cover the face too much, so that you can no longer be identified. Here, if caught, a fine in the amount of 60 € due.

wear a mask when driving alone

You sometimes forget to take it off when you leave the store – and then you drive alone in the car with the mask on. don’t worry, this little carelessness will fall not prohibition of mummery. You are allowed to drive a car even with your mask on, even if you travel alone – but you don’t have to. In fact, it is usually better to remove the mask here. Especially wearers of glasses can be restricted in their view by fogging up of the glasses.

Driving with a mask – several people in the car

If you are not alone in the car, depending on the circumstances, the mask requirement may apply. Because: the normal contact restrictions for households also apply in your car.

If the incidence under the given guideline, the rule applies:

  • Two households – but no more than five people – are allowed together in public or in private. children under 14 years are not counted. So you can also lie in your car up to four other persons provided of course that your car has the necessary seats for it.
  • Most of the time there is no obligation to wear a mask here. But especially if people from outside the household are riding along, it is advisable to wear a mouth guard in the car.

Are the incidence figures above this value, may at most another non-household person ride along. Persons of your own household are still allowed to travel with you.

  • Depending on the state there is then general obligation to wear a mask in the car, when more than one person is transported.
  • Currently, the following federal states require mandatory masks in cars:
  • Berlin
  • Hamburg
  • Saarland
  • Saxony

masks are compulsory here as well

In addition, masks are still mandatory:

  • On the gas station, at the gas station and in the store.
  • At the car wash, while you wait.
  • At the car cleaning, at tire pressure check o.a. On gas station area.
  • If you want to get from police get stopped and talk to the officials.

Mask etiquettewhen you drive through a drive-in or to a person-operated toll booth or the like, the person in front of you is happy if you wear a mask!

corona and driving a car – our conclusion

There is a lot of confusion – and not without reason. The rules and exceptions change almost every week. There are two things you should keep in mind to get through this crazy time as safely as possible:

  • If you can avoid it, we recommend to make only the most necessary trips – and otherwise leave your vehicle at home. Is also the perfect opportunity for some simple car repairs or some car tuning, or?
  • When you need to drive, always inform yourself as much as possible before departure. Especially if the trip goes to an area with different regulations and corona rules.

So you are always on the safe side! We hope we could bring a little light in the darkness with this overview.

And how is it with you? How do you feel about corona and driving a car? Do you leave your car more often? Write us your experiences. We are looking forward to your comment!

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Christina Cherry
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