Autobahn Angels Sooth Drivers’ Jangled Nerves
Frustrated West German motorists who find themselves overheating along with their cars in massive traffic jams on the country’s autobahns are now getting help from four young women riding powerful BMW motorcycles in coping with highway stress.
Working during the week as nurses, therapists or legal assistants, the women, ages 22 to 25, patrol the busiest section of road between Hamburg and the state of Hesse on summer weekends to comfort motorists feeling the stress of traffic delays.
They join with colleagues from the West German Motorists Assn. and the German Red Cross for 15 weekends during the summer to form teams of “traffic-jam advisers.”
“It’s a way of combining the joy of motorcycling with a useful activity,” said Christina Klossika, a trained nurse.
“Of course you have to forget any ideas about riding in a sporting way,” Sylke Krahe said. “Where we work you can only travel at between (12 and 18 miles) an hour.”
The autobahn angels measure blood pressure and take pulses, but often only a few words of comfort are needed when those trapped in a traffic jam start to get panicky.
Ulrike Johannsen gained plenty of experience last year when the traffic-jam advisers aided motorists on more than 900 occasions.
“I haven’t encountered any bias against motorcyclists so far,” said Ulrike.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
