Safely on vacation

If you book a vacation online, you should watch out for fake sales platforms. The so-called fake stores offer products for advance payment that do not even exist, such as air travel. If you pay, the money is gone.

• Be careful with supposed bargains or limited offers. Compare the product and price with other providers.
• Type the name of the online store into a search engine to find out negative experiences from other customers. You can also find out from consumer advice centers.
• Do not pay in advance, but choose a secure payment method (e.g. purchase on account).
• If you have already transferred money to a fake store, contact your bank immediately to find out whether you can reverse the payment. For other payment methods (e.g. cash transfer), contact the service provider immediately to have the transaction stopped. Save all evidence of your online purchase (purchase contract, order confirmation, e-mails) and keep it. File a report with the police.

A few days in the mountains, a city break or a trip to the seaside - for many people, it's time to go on vacation. But there are a few things to consider before you leave:

• Inform relatives or friends about your travel plans and ask them to make sure that your apartment or house looks lived in, e.g. by regularly emptying the letterbox, opening and closing the blinds and putting out the garbage cans. Use timers with lights to simulate presence.
• Do not leave any information about your absence on your answering machine or social networks. Burglars also read such posts to locate vacant apartments and houses.
• Make copies of your IDs (passport and vaccination card), payment cards and tickets before you leave. Keep these in a separate place in your luggage. In the event of loss, travelers will still have the most important data to hand.
• Make a note of the 116 116 emergency number so that you can block your debit or credit card immediately in the event of theft.
• Back up your cell phone and other data so that at least copies are available and important telephone numbers are available in the event of loss.

During the vacations in particular, the volume of traffic on freeways is expected to be significantly higher than during non-holiday periods. As a result, increased traffic jams and accidents are generally to be expected. What to bear in mind:

• Focus on the traffic! Whether in a car or motorhome: all your senses are needed in road traffic. Every distraction increases the risk of an accident. No message or phone call is so important that it puts your own life and the lives of others at risk.
• Rescue lanes save lives: Clear the way to the accident scene for emergency services in good time. This already applies when traffic starts to slow down or vehicles are only driving at walking pace.
  • Form an emergency lane between the left-hand lane and the other lanes.
  • Only police and emergency vehicles may drive in the emergency lane.
  • The emergency lane must always remain free for breakdown vehicles.
• Distance saves lives: In addition to excessive speed and errors when changing lanes, not keeping enough distance are major causes of accidents on freeways.
• Fatigue at the wheel is an underestimated accident risk: two hours less sleep doubles the risk of an accident. Being well rested means reaching your destination safely.
• There is no alternative to a child seat for children under the age of 12. Only a third of all children are properly secured in the car!
   

You should also make sure that your luggage is safely stowed away. This is because loose or poorly secured objects can become dangerous projectiles if the driver suddenly has to brake hard or swerve. There is a risk of injury to the head or spine.

• Arrange the cargo with as few gaps as possible and secure it using load securing nets and straps.
• Ensure correct weight distribution: Heavy objects belong at the bottom (preferably in the footwell and supported with straps, only stow light objects at the top).
• Make sure that the load does not protrude into the front area.
• The rear seat backrest can be supported by diagonally closed straps if no one is sitting there. It is not always advisable to fold down the rear seat: it can also serve as a protective partition.
• Observe the specifications for tire pressure and axle loads in the owner's manual. 
   

If you stop at a service station or refuel on the way, you should remain vigilant. A brief absence is enough for thieves to steal valuables from the vehicle or even drive away with them. Some groups of criminals lure travelers away from their vehicle under a pretext. They draw attention to supposed damage or ask to be shown the way on a map. Here are some tips for a safe journey:

• Park vehicles in busy and well-lit parking lots.
• Keep an eye on the vehicle if possible, even during a short stop.
• Do not leave any valuables in the vehicle - not even supposedly hidden or in the trunk.
• Do not leave any clues to the home address or house keys in plain sight. Burglars could take advantage of this.
• When getting out: Remove the ignition key, lock the windows, doors, trunk, sunroof and fuel filler cap.
• Keep the vehicle locked while driving to prevent flash thefts (e.g. from the trunk while stopped at a junction).
• Overnight: If you spend the night on the road, remove all luggage from the trunk.
• Use mechanical anti-theft devices (e.g. steering wheel lock) or security technology (e.g. anti-theft alarm system) to protect against thieves.
   

Many holidaymakers take their own bike with them on bike tours. To transport bicycles safely on a rack, it is important to secure them properly and also protect them against theft.

• The load capacity of the carrier and the drawbar load of the trailer coupling must not be exceeded - this is often the case when transporting heavy pedelecs in particular.
• The bike should be secured to the frame and wheels, possibly with additional tensioning straps. Attachments such as the air pump, battery or transport baskets should be removed before starting off.
• The best way to prevent theft is with a bike lock, which is attached to the frame and wheels of the transported bike.
• Important: The wheels must not protrude more than 40 centimetres beyond the visible tail light at the side, and the car loaded with wheels must not be wider than 2.55 meters.
• It is advisable to stop briefly after a few kilometers to check whether the bike is still secured. Depending on the weather conditions, you should also reduce your speed.

It is not uncommon for travelers with a caravan or motorhome to be the target of fraudsters or burglars. To make sure burglars don't stand a chance, you should follow these tips:

• Only set up your caravan, motorhome or tent on official campsites. "Wild" camping is usually not only prohibited, but also more risky.
• Lock your caravan/motorhome while you are away.
• Secure your vehicle with an alarm system and install a securely anchored safe (motorhome safe).
• Secure bicycles or pedelecs mounted on bike racks with additional locks.
• A drawbar lock protects against the possible loss of the entire caravan.
   

Gas cylinders are usually used in motorhomes or caravans for showering, heating or cooking. But how can they be transported safely and properly?

• When transporting a gas cylinder, the gas cylinder valve must be closed and a protective cap fitted. There is one exception when transporting by caravan or motorhome: refrigerators or heaters may be operated during the journey.
• Do not expose gas cylinders to direct sunlight for long periods of time to prevent them from heating up excessively.
• The cylinders must be secured in such a way that they do not slip, roll back and forth, fall over or fall down even in the event of emergency braking. When transporting in a motorhome or camper van, a bottle storage area in which the bottle stands upright is mandatory. There must be ventilation openings.
• The maximum number of filled gas cylinders that may be in the cylinder gas box is limited to 2 x 11 kg. You should also observe the drawbar load of the vehicle.
• Good to know: There is no standardized connection system for gas cylinders in Europe. This means that not every gas cylinder you buy when traveling will fit your own connections. It is therefore advisable to have a so-called European removal set with adapters in your luggage.

The long-awaited relaxation can quickly come to an end when clever thieves take advantage of the vacation mood to commit crimes. A few seconds of inattention is all it takes for papers and valuables to disappear.

• Only take as much cash, payment cards or ID with you as necessary and carry them close to your body.
• Always keep an eye on your valuables, especially in places where there are a lot of tourists, e.g. near tourist attractions or on the beach. Hotels and campsites are also frequently frequented by thieves. Never leave valuables unattended - not even during a short stop in the vehicle.
• Put your means of payment, papers and valuables (e.g. jewelry) in the safe immediately after arrival or hand them over to the hotel or campsite management for safekeeping. Do not wear expensive jewelry or watches in public.
• Never leave your valuables (e.g. watch or camera) lying around in your room. Always lock your room, vacation home or caravan. Do not leave the door key in places where others can easily take it.
• Currencies should only be exchanged in financial institutions. Fraudsters could issue counterfeit money.
• Keep an eye on your credit card when paying. Criminals can copy them very quickly. In the event of theft, use the 116 116 emergency number to block your debit or credit card.
• Memorize your personal identification number (PIN) and never write it down on a piece of paper in your wallet

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