Bavarian firefighters practise emergency driving in simulators
Thursday 5th November 2026 on 05:45 in
Bavaria
Firefighters in Bavaria are training for emergency drives in autumn conditions using simulators, BR reports. Wet roads, slippery leaves and poor visibility raise the risk of crashes, and heavy fire engines and ambulances need longer to stop even as they travel through traffic.
Bavaria has three mobile emergency-driving simulators, funded by the Bavarian State Ministry and Versicherungskammer Bayern. At a training session in Hebertshausen, near Dachau, volunteer firefighters practise driving while simulated traffic reacts to their movements and to their blue lights and sirens.
Training leader and district fire inspector Rudi Schmid said the exercises aim to make drivers alert to possible hazards and remind them to follow the rules and observe speed limits. Emergency vehicles have right of way only when using both blue lights and a siren. As a rule of thumb, drivers should not exceed the speed limit by more than about 50 per cent: 75 km/h in built-up areas, depending on conditions.
Firefighters say other road users are among the biggest challenges. Nadine Grain, a volunteer firefighter who completed her first simulated emergency drive, said the scenarios felt realistic, particularly when drivers failed to notice the approaching vehicle and pulled into its path. Schmid urged emergency drivers to expect other road users to do the unexpected.
The simulator recreates autumn weather, animals crossing the road and cars appearing suddenly. After each drive, participants can review where they were travelling too fast or relied too much on others to make way.
Firefighter Sepp Grain, who has responded to emergencies in Dachau district for more than 10 years, advised drivers not to stop in a position that blocks the vehicle, but to move aside and avoid narrow spots. His colleague Frederic William said drivers should stay alert when they hear a siren or see blue lights, turn down the radio, put away their phones and use their indicators to show what they plan to do.
Simulator training is intended to help emergency crews drive more safely, but the article says safety also depends on other road users reacting calmly and deliberately.