Drivers across Germany are about to face a wave of speed cameras as police launch the Speed Camera Marathon, also known as "Speedweek," their most intensive round of speed checks of the summer travel season. Here's what motorists need to know before hitting the road this week.
Speedweek is a recurring road safety campaign held twice a year, in April and August, during which German police intensify speed monitoring far beyond routine levels. The August edition runs from the 3rd to the 9th, placing it squarely in the middle of the country's summer holiday season, when traffic volumes are typically higher due to family trips and vacation travel.
Officers are concentrating their efforts on locations with a history of accidents or a heightened risk profile. These include stretches near schools, construction zones, kindergartens, care homes for the elderly, and hospitals, areas where sudden pedestrian movement or vulnerable road users make speeding especially dangerous. Enforcement is not limited to any single type of road, with checks spanning motorways, federal highways, and local streets alike.
Unlike the April campaign, this summer's edition does not feature a single designated day of concentrated checks. Instead, enforcement will be spread out fairly evenly across the entire week. Historically, fewer federal states take part in the August round compared to the spring campaign, and 2026 follows that pattern.
Thirteen states have confirmed participation: Baden-Württemberg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. Bavaria, Saxony, and Saarland are sitting this round out.
Notably, Saxony is instead preparing its own separate enforcement drive later in the month, a campaign titled "School Has Started," scheduled to run from August 17th through September 4th to coincide with the return of the school year.
Details on exact camera locations remain scarce this year. Only a handful of states and local authorities have chosen to publish the times and sites of stepped-up enforcement ahead of the campaign, and even where information is shared, unannounced or surprise checkpoints cannot be ruled out. The interior ministries of Baden-Württemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, for instance, have not disclosed in advance where their mobile and stationary units will be stationed over the coming days.
Drivers hoping to stay informed are advised to monitor local news outlets and municipal websites in the days leading up to and throughout the August 3rd to 9th window, as some regional authorities may still release partial location details closer to the date.
Anyone caught exceeding the speed limit during the campaign faces the standard consequences that apply to speeding offenses year-round: fines, penalty points on their driving record in Flensburg, and, in more serious cases, a temporary driving ban.
Speed remains one of the most commonly cited factors behind road accidents in Germany. Figures from the Federal Statistical Office show that more than 2,800 people died in road traffic accidents in 2025, an increase of 62 fatalities compared to the previous year. Despite this uptick, the overall figure remains far below the levels seen three decades ago, when road deaths topped 9,500 in 1995.
Commenting on the campaign, Ulrich Chiellino, Head of Transport Policy at the ADAC, emphasized that speed limits should be treated as firm boundaries rather than suggestions, calling on all road users to regularly reassess their own driving behavior and show greater consideration for others on the road.
From breaking news to thought-provoking opinion pieces, our newsletter keeps you informed & engaged.
By subscribing, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
