German police have launched a criminal investigation after a driver allegedly engaged in intimate activity with a passenger while travelling at high speed on the A1 motorway. The incident occurred on Monday morning during peak commuter traffic and prompted a police operation due to serious road safety concerns.
A witness reported a Ford driving erratically towards Dortmund, repeatedly swerving and nearly leaving the roadway. According to authorities, the vehicle drifted so far to the right that a truck driver was forced to move into the emergency lane to avoid a collision.
Witness alerted authorities after dangerous manoeuvres
The witness overtook the vehicle and told officers he could clearly see both the driver and his passenger were significantly distracted. Police emphasised that this distraction posed a risk not only to them but to other road users.
Officers later stopped the car at a service station near Steinfurter Straße in Münster. The driver, a 37-year-old German national, was questioned on site along with the female passenger.
Criminal proceedings initiated
Due to the severe impairment of driving ability observed, police are treating the case as a dangerous interference with road traffic, a criminal offense under Section 315b of Germany’s Criminal Code. The offence carries penalties of up to five years in prison if prosecuted and proven in court.
Authorities highlight that this type of conduct — engaging in distracting behaviour while in control of a vehicle — can have deadly consequences at autobahn speeds.
Road safety remains the focus
Police in North Rhine-Westphalia note an increase in reports of distracted driving, from mobile phone use to other unsafe behaviours. Officials stress that even brief lapses in concentration on high-speed routes like the A1 can result in serious or fatal accidents.
The investigation is ongoing, and further legal steps will depend on the outcome of the case review.
