- Legal Basis
- § 315c StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to five years or a fine
- Summary
- Endangering road traffic through gross violations of traffic rules or driving while unfit
Endangering Road Traffic (Section 315c German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Traffic Endangerment Charges
Endangering road traffic is a serious traffic offence that comes into consideration whenever gross violations of traffic rules combined with reckless behaviour, or driving while unfit, concretely endanger the life, physical integrity, or significant property of other road users. For expats in Germany, understanding the distinction between this serious offence and simpler traffic violations is essential, as the consequences – including imprisonment and mandatory licence revocation – are severe.
Statutory Text – Section 315c StGB (Excerpt)
Paragraph 1: Whoever operates a vehicle in road traffic while unfit to drive safely due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages, other intoxicating substances, or mental or physical impairments (no. 1), or who grossly violates traffic rules and drives recklessly by failing to observe right of way, overtaking improperly, driving too fast at unclear locations or intersections, failing to keep to the right side of the road at such locations, making U-turns on motorways, driving in reverse or against the direction of traffic (no. 2), and thereby endangers the life or physical integrity of another person or property of significant value belonging to another, shall be punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine.
Paragraph 3: Whoever negligently causes the danger in the cases of paragraph 1 shall be punished with imprisonment of up to two years or a fine.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Unfitness to drive (no. 1): As with Section 316 StGB, unfitness encompasses the influence of alcohol, drugs, or physical and mental impairments. The decisive difference from Section 316 is that Section 315c requires a concrete endangerment to occur.
Grossly improper and reckless conduct (no. 2): The seven standard examples in paragraph 1 no. 2 cover the typical serious traffic violations. A person acts grossly improperly if they violate traffic rules in a particularly serious manner. A person acts recklessly if they consciously disregard the interests of other road users for selfish reasons or are indifferent to them.
Concrete endangerment: A concrete danger to the life or physical integrity of another person or to property of significant value belonging to another (from approximately 750 euros) must have occurred. Abstract dangerousness is insufficient. The situation must have escalated to the point where only chance determined whether damage occurred (a so-called near-miss).
Typical Methods of Commission
Typical cases include driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs with concrete endangerment of other road users, reckless overtaking manoeuvres on country roads, wrong-way driving on motorways, massively exceeding the permitted speed limit at intersections, running red lights with near-collisions, and aggressive tailgating with coercive character. Illegal street racing may also fall under this provision, although a separate offence has been created for this with Section 315d StGB.
Sentencing Range
Intentional endangering of road traffic is punished with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine. For negligent causation of the danger (para. 3), the penalty is imprisonment of up to two years or a fine. As a rule, the driving licence is revoked (Section 69 StGB) with a lock-out period of at least six months. The vehicle may be confiscated.
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence against traffic endangerment charges frequently focuses on the question of concrete endangerment: was there actually a near-miss, or was the situation dangerous but not yet concretely endangering? The element of recklessness also offers points of attack, as a particularly reprehensible inner attitude must be proven. In cases of unfitness to drive, the admissibility of evidence (blood sample, breath alcohol test) is examined as with Section 316 StGB. BAFTEH Strafverteidigung comprehensively analyses the facts and develops a strategy aimed at ensuring the best possible defence – particularly with regard to the threatened licence revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was ist eine Gefährdung des Straßenverkehrs?
§ 315c StGB erfasst unter anderem das Führen eines Fahrzeugs trotz Fahruntüchtigkeit sowie grob verkehrswidriges und rücksichtsloses Verhalten, wenn dadurch Leib, Leben oder fremde Sachen von bedeutendem Wert konkret gefährdet werden.
Worin liegt der Unterschied zu § 316 StGB?
§ 315c verlangt zusätzlich eine konkrete Gefährdung. Ohne eine solche kommt nur die Drink Driving (§ 316 StGB) in Betracht.
Welche Folgen drohen?
Freiheits- oder Geldstrafe sowie häufig die Entziehung der Fahrerlaubnis (§ 69 StGB).
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Endangering Road Traffic? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Endangering Road Traffic requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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