couldn't traverse the roadway as it was completely obstructed.
On Pentecost Monday, it felt like the L35 was still the B96 as the main artery for travelers traversing Vorpommern's Baltic coast and Berlin. For approximately two hours, a substantial chunk of southbound traffic took to this stretch instead of the nearby and, presumably, faster A20.
Crash lands car just shy of Anklam exit
The explanation for this detour came in the form of an accident on the A20 between the exits at Jarmen and Klempenow. Around half a kilometer before the Anklam exit, a Mercedes B-Class from Brandenburg reportedly on its way home, met its end. According to tire tracks and initial witness reports, the car swerved left, slamming into the safety barrier at around 12:45 PM. The vehicle was then flung back to the right, screeching to a halt, badly damaged on the front and driver's side.
Firefighters and motorcycle messenger called in
In addition to the police, two ambulances, and the rescue helicopter "Christoph 47" stationed in Greifswald, which landed on the hard shoulder near the accident scene and dispatched a doctor to the site, the Jarmen fire department was summoned. This included the Plötz fire station. A total of four vehicles and their own motorcycle-messenger were deployed, with 19 firefighters and paramedics working the scene.
Firefighters took care of securing the accident scene, disconnecting the battery, and clearing the road of vehicle debris. The operation lasted close to two hours.
All four occupants transported to the hospital
Initially, it seemed that the four occupants of the crashed car escaped with just a scare. However, they were taken to the hospital for further evaluation as a precaution, as reported by Chief Fire Officer Gerhard Vockelmann.
The A20 southbound was completely shut down for about half an hour due to the accident, causing a pile-up in Pentecost weekend traffic. Post clean-up, police and firefighters directed traffic past the scene on one side, with the helicopter having already taken off. Nevertheless, many drivers chose the L35 as an alternative route.
Multiple factors likely contributed to the overwhelming preference for the L35 as an alternate route during Pentecost Monday, even though the A20 remained accessible. Here's a breakdown of the main reasons:
1. Navigation Apps and Real-time Traffic Data
Navigation systems (such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, or Waze) can detect accidents and congestion almost instantaneously. If the accident led to significant delays, even with the A20 open, drivers often are automatically re-routed to the quickest viable path, frequently bypassing official suggestions.
- Users may blindly trust apps over official routes when they see red warning lines and extended delays.
- Drivers might not check alternative routes manually and simply follow app instructions.
2. Local Knowledge and Traditional Routes
Some drivers, particularly locals or frequent commuters, normally opt for familiar local roads over Autobahns, especially when:- They anticipate continuous delays or intermittent closures.- They are familiar with shortcuts that bypass typical bottlenecks, even if the official route is still accessible.
3. Uncertainty stemming from the accident
An accident can generate unpredictable delays:- Emergency vehicles occupy lanes.- ** Cleanup efforts and investigations post-accident can cause slow-moving traffic.- Drivers may choose to exit early** to dodge being delayed, regardless of the official status of the A20.
4. Official Communications and Message Boards
In case official message boards or announcements recommended the L35 as a detour for specific vehicles (such as trucks or non-local traffic), drivers might have followed this guidance, disregarding the A20.
5. Fear of gridlock
- Pentecost Monday is a major travel holiday, resulting in above-average traffic volumes.
- Drivers might fear getting stuck in hours-long traffic and opt for secondary roads, assuming they'll move more freely, despite the longer distance.
Key Points Summary Table
| Reason | Description ||------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|| Real-time navigation | Apps reroute to faster paths, bypassing official routes || Local knowledge | Familiarity with shortcuts and less-congested roads || Uncertainty from accident | Fear of unpredictable delays on the Autobahn || Official recommendations | Possible detour suggestions for certain vehicles or situations || Holiday traffic | High volumes increase the risk of gridlock, prompting early exits |
Overall Conclusion
Despite the A20 being open, many drivers likely chose the L35 due to factors such as real-time app rerouting, local knowledge, fear of unpredictable delays from the accident, possible official detour recommendations, and the increased holiday traffic volume. This shift in traffic patterns created a noticeable congestion in the areas near Jarmen and Klempemperow on Pentecost Monday.
- The crash on the A20 stirred curiosity among general-news enthusiasts, making the car-accident a popular news topic.
- The longer travel time on the L35, despite its congestion, was attributed to some drivers' reliance on real-time weather-forecasting. With a storm approaching the coast, some drivers feared the A20 might be more susceptible to weather-related accidents and opted for the L35.
- The immense pressure from increased Pentecost weekend traffic, combined with the car-accident on the A20, led to a general preference for alternative routes like the L35. This preference for 'beating the traffic' may persist even when one route remains accessible.
