Two aquaplaning accidents on A20: driver injured, street blocked!

Two aquaplaning accidents on A20: driver injured, street blocked!

On July 9, 2025, two serious accidents occurred on the A 20 motorway near Strasburg, which were caused by aquaplaning. Both vehicles, a VW Passat and a VW Golf, had proven to be on the route towards Lübeck at the same time and lost the controls across their trail. A 37-year-old German driver of the VW Passat crashed into the guardrail and an emergency column, while the 39-year-old driver of the VW Golf also came off the road and had a collision with the guardrail. According to news.de, the accidents were recorded around 6:25 p.m.

Due to the two incidents, the A 20 in the direction of travel Lübeck was only passable for about three hours, since the traffic could only be guided over the left lane. The damage to the vehicles adds up to around 50,000 euros, whereby the VW Passat costs around 30,000 euros and the VW Golf with 20,000 euros.

What is aquaplaning?

But what exactly is aquaplaning and what leads to such dangerous situations? In the case of aquaplaning, the vehicle is lifted off the road by a water film, which significantly limits the steering and braking capacity. It becomes particularly dangerous at higher speeds, since the risk of aquaplaning from 80 km/h increases significantly, as bussgeld-info.de. The factors include water accumulation on the street, the type of tires and also the driving speed. In the case of rain, moderate handling of the accelerator pedal is required.

Especially in the driving school, the topic of aquaplaning is treated profoundly. It is recommended to adapt the speed in bad weather conditions and always check the vehicle for sufficient tire pressure and profile depth. Corrected tires or inappropriate driving style can significantly increase the likelihood of an accident.

How do you react with aquaplaning?

If a driver is affected by aquaplaning, calm behavior and considered actions are required. Sudden steering movements or strong brakes should be avoided to prevent sling. According to the tips from bussgeldinfo.org, the foot should be carefully removed from the accelerator pedal and the vehicle should come evenly. Holding on the steering wheel with both hands can also improve control over the vehicle. As the current incidents show, it is crucial to act preventively and to adapt to weather conditions.

Especially in northern German regions, where rain and wet lanes are part of everyday life, it is particularly important to be aware of the risks. With a good hand in the driving style, the risk of accidents can be greatly reduced. Always stay safe on the streets!