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Can you stop on the hard shoulder of a Danish motorway to rest or make a call?

Where you may and may not stop

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Short answer

You may not stop or park on a Danish motorway outside the marked parking places and rest areas, and the rule also covers the slip roads. Stopping is allowed at an emergency telephone if you use it. A tired driver or a phone call is not a reason to use the hard shoulder, so drive on to the next rest area or exit. A car that has stopped because of a breakdown or an accident must be moved to a suitable place as soon as possible.

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Why

  1. Cars on the shoulder are at risk of being hit from behind.
  2. Rest areas are the only legal stopping places.
  3. Turning and reversing are banned on the motorway too.

Details

After hitting an animal on a busy motorway, the advice is to drive on when it is safe and use the hard shoulder only if the car is badly damaged.

Tip

If you feel sleepy, leave at the next exit or rest area before you get worse, not on the shoulder.

What may differ

Stopping at an emergency telephone is allowed when you use the phone.

Common misconception

Many drivers think a short stop on the hard shoulder is fine as long as the hazard lights are on.

What actually happens

Stopping outside rest areas and parking places is banned unless you have broken down or there is an emergency.

People also ask

  • What do you do if your car breaks down on a Danish motorway?
  • Is a warning triangle mandatory in Denmark?
  • Can you sleep in your car at a Danish rest area?

Sources

This answer is for reference only. Traffic rules, fines and fees can change, so check the Danish authorities before you drive.

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