Stauprognose: Die Stausaison endet - ganz ohne Störungen geht's aber nicht

The holiday season for road travel is winding down, according to the Auto Club Europa (ACE), but expect no trouble-free driving. The club's forecast for the upcoming weekend (4th to 9th September) notes that the major summer traffic jams are behind us. However, congestion risks remain on many highways, with returning travelers adding to the load.

The returning wave is rolling, partly because many drivers from Baden-Württemberg and Bayern are heading home - the end of the holiday season is already in sight. Additionally, non-scheduled travelers, weekend tourists, and day-trippers will also be on the roads, especially along routes leading to the Alps, mountain regions, coastal areas, and lakes.

Around 1,000 construction sites and planned full closures on some highway sections also cause traffic to slow down. The worst traffic congestion is expected on Friday and Saturday morning, as well as on Sunday afternoon, but ACE still warns of a medium-level traffic jam risk on Sundays until about 8 PM. For those who can, planning alternate routes or shifting travel dates is advised.

Ideal days for flexible travelers are Tuesday and Wednesday. However, even on weekends, avoid peak commuter times. If travel is necessary, depart early in the morning or consider a night drive. Sunday is usually better than Saturday due to truck driver restrictions in some federal states, but heavy trucks may still be present on Sundays.

Overall, expect heavy traffic on major German highways, especially A1, A4, A9, A10, A11, A12, A13, and A14, as well as on Austrian routes A1, A4, A9, A10, A11, and A12. In Switzerland, the Gotthard route (A2) may experience longer delays, but with significantly less traffic overall. If possible, consider the San-Bernardino route (A13) as an alternative. Expect possible delays on A1 (Bern - Zürich) and A3 (Basel - Chur) as well.