Traffic jam warning at the start of the holidays: Police are checking on the A31!

Traffic jam warning at the start of the holidays: Police are checking on the A31!

Holiday time means travel time! With the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia there will be a lot going on on the motorways. From today, July 11, 2025, big traveling starts for many families. The first holidaymakers are setting off and the police are ready to ensure security. According to NDR, checks are being carried out on the A31 at the Ems-Vechte Ost service area in the direction of Emden. The Emsland/County of Bentheim police station uses mobile scales to check overloaded and incorrectly secured cars. Signs of fatigue as well as alcohol and drug consumption are also on the checklist.

The last day of school in North Rhine-Westphalia was this Friday, and now the streets are very busy. The volume of traffic on holiday routes and at the border crossings with the Netherlands will increase massively in the next few days. The ADAC is expecting traffic jams over the weekend, especially in the north. There will even be a road closure on the A7 until the middle of next week! And that's not all - it is also pointed out that a lot of vacationing on the motorways can be expected this season, especially by travelers from countries such as Bremen, Hesse and Lower Saxony.

Traffic jam forecasts and travel behavior

The ADAC traffic report predicts that summer tourist traffic on the motorways in Germany will increase next weekend. In addition to North Rhine-Westphalia, the north of the Netherlands and various federal states such as Saxony and Thuringia, which have already been on vacation for two weeks, are also affected. This large wave of travel also leads to delays due to day trippers and last-minute people who crowd the streets, especially when the weather is nice.

Speaking of roads: There are currently around 1,200 construction sites on German motorways, many of which remain active during the summer travel season. The risk of traffic jams is particularly high on Friday afternoons, Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons. If you want to avoid unpleasant delays, it is better to travel on Monday or Tuesday, as they are generally quieter travel days. Trucks over 7.5 tons are not allowed to drive on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., which could provide some relief.

Congested routes and traffic measures

As far as the affected routes are concerned, the A1, A2, A3, A5, A7, A8, and A61 motorways are particularly stressed. According to traffic forecasts, foreign routes, especially in Austria and Switzerland, are also severely affected - especially at peak times. Traffic is expected to be slow on these routes due to numerous construction sites and possible entry controls. There can be longer waiting times, especially at border crossings such as Suben and Walserberg.

To make their trip safe and stress-free, vacationers can plan their route in advance and view current traffic news. The ADAC and various industry associations advise and provide information about the best travel tips during the high season. We can only hope that all travelers have a good hand in planning their trips and reach their destination safely!