I have never actually encountered a 'ghostrider' in my years of travel to Germany - but then I never inquired as to the causes of a couple of outstanding wrecks in the opposite lanes that I passed. I had extraordinary luck for about 3 years in that all of the automobile accidents I encountered had all occurred on the other side of the dividing barrier - until March 2005.

I had spent the day (a sunday) at Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein and then wandered north towards Augsburg and the A8. When I left the south it was a clear sunny day, but as I entered the A8 towards Munich, it began to snow - big wet fluffy flakes. Being Canadian I am somewhat used to this sort of weather so I didn't think much of it. At Kreutz Neufahrn I could see that traffic was moving slowly northwards on the A9 but in my hubris I decided to exit the A8 and join the A9. At that exact moment, the traffic management bulletin cut into the CD I was listening to and basically said - if you are anywhere in Bavaria, avoid the A9 as it was backed up from Ingolstadt Sud to - you guessed it - Kreutz Neufahrn. By that time I was committed and could not get off to take a detour (U). 64 Km of 'Gestoppen'! 5 hours later I made it to Ingolstadt and from there it was clear sailing.

Apparently the road had iced over ahead of the traffic maintenance crews getting out - so there was a crust of ice combined with one or more impatient and fast drivers with the result that just near Ingolstadt Sud, there had been a tremendous pileup - too many cars to count plus a couple of large transport trucks. It was a big enough wreck to make the news that night.

Important safety tip. Germany simply doesn't experience the type of winter driving conditions which pertain in Canada and thus their highway maintenance crews are not as efficient at getting out ahead of the weather and sanding or salting the roads. They do sort it out after the snow has fallen, but a major snow storm seems to take them by surprise. If you are travelling in southern Germany after Christmas and up to March you can experience icy driving conditions.

My rule of thumb is this - if you leave a major city on a Friday - pack a sandwhich and bottle of water. If you leave during inclement weather, do the same. There are plenty of rest stops, but if there is a stau or accident stoppage, those rest stops will fill up very quickly. Likewise if you are returning to a major city on a Sunday - be prepared for frequent staus.

cheers MWAC