An in-depth guide for driving at C-D (Calais-Duisburg) road on TruckersMP

Many accidents have been observed and a plethora of players have been recorded/banned due to inappropriate driving at C-D road. My intention of composing this guide is to give some advice to players to drive safely and properly in this road with heavy traffic. Let's create a healthy community in Euro Truck Simulator 2 :)

An introduction to the Calais-Duisburg (C-D) road

Basically, C-D road means "A country road starting from Calais in France and terminates at Duisburg in Germany." The road will pass through 4 major countries: France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany.

Graphical/GPS representation of C-D road:



The reason for the popularity of the C-D road is the heavy and frequent traffic congestion and accidents,, characterized by numerous players driving at the road at the same time, ultimately resembling typical European traffic circumstances.

Part 1: Starting from Calais at France

It has been observed that majority of the players will be gathered together at the exit closer to the service station. This results in occasional traffic congestion at the exit 1.

However, there is a new exit available after the re-working of the Calais city, which I found much less players using it.



Please be noted that:



Pinned location 1 is much better than pinned location 2 in terms of leaving Calais city because:

1) Less players using it meaning lower probability of engaging in traffic accidents

2) After taking the first exist at the round-about, it is confirmed that no vehicles can come from behind and you can take the fast lane immediately.





3) You should stop and give way to other vehicles to pass first (if there is any) once you approached at the round-about (Please use your mirrors).



Video of leaving Calais city using exit 2:

Part 2: Approaching to the exits (within France)

When players are driving toward this location (refer to the position 1 of the figure below), you should reduce your speed and look at the both sides. Observe if there are any vehicles (players) who are trying to turn right/left.

1) Reduce speed




2) Observe left and right



3) It is believed that more focus should be put on right side since majority of players are coming from that direction.


However, you have the priority to drive through first and players from the both sides should give way to you first.

IMPORTANT:

When turning left at this position, please pay EXTRA ATTENTION by looking at your right side (circled in red). It is because many players want to turn left but they forget to get in lane first. Hence, it is a major spot for traffic accidents to occur. Still, attention needs to be paid to the players from the opposite direction (circled in blue).

Part 3: Approaching to the start of the C-D road

Position 1: After you have climbed up the road to the A16 Highway:

Give way first to the players coming from the slow lane of A16 (red circle), followed by driving along the slow lane after you have cut into it. (blue arrows)



Position 2: Activate the right indicator to indicate players from behind that you are going to the fly-over of A16.

IMPORTANT: Be aware of the players cutting through since they may forget to get in lane initially. (red circle)

Position 3: Stop and give way to any vehicles coming from the left side

Part 4-1: Points of highlights when driving along the country road (1)

Technically, the REAL part of the C-D road begins from the Fly-over at A16 Highway and terminates at the T-shaped road outside the Duisburg city (Pin-points 1 and 2 respectively).








1) TWO petrol/gas stations are available at the C-D road. Many players/vehicles are usually accumulated at the stations. Hence, it is advised that players should avoid stopping at the stations unless there is an urgent needs of diesel re-fueling.



If you are approaching to either of the gas stations, it is suggested to reduce speed and give way to any possible vehicles that want to leave the gas station.

Gas station 200m ahead, reduce speed



- If possible, give ways to vehicles (players) that wanted to leave the gas station. Do not forget to activate the hazard flasher (F button on your keyboard, if you are using mouse and keyboard to drive of course). This allows players from behind to understand your purpose and hence they will simultaneously slow down and stop behind you.

- If you are in an urgent need for re-fueling, a correct way of doing this will be represented by the video. But first I will show you the WRONG method of doing that.

It is strictly prohibited to cut the opposite lane and drive directly to the gas station, provided that the gas station is AWAY from you.

The correct way should be:

Blue circle: Press F
Red allows: Provide enough space for players to turn on either way

2) A plethora of sharp-bends can be found at the C-D road.


These are just only 3 out of many.

- Generally, players are NOT ALLOWED to perform over-taking at sharp-bends, usually the bends are coupled with solid white line(s)

NO over-taking is allowed


Sharp-turn ahead, reduce speed


Sharp-bend ahead, reduce speed


3) The signature level-crossing at the C-D road


The rule is simple:

- When the light is red, players/vehicles must be stopped, preferably at the line designed in front of the level-crossing.



-When the light is white, keep going along the road after the gate has FULLY raised .

Part 4-2: Points of highlights when driving along the country road (2)

4) The highway-country road intersection

2 of them can be found alongside C-D road


This road-board signals that you are approaching to the inter-section. (Personal tip: Reduce speed since a sharp-bend is ahead)


At closer proximity to the inter-section, STOP (blue circle) and give way to the vehicles (if any, represented by red arrows) that may come from the left-side of the A73 highway or your opposite direction

Another intersection:

Just the same strategy, observe any vehicles/players that maybe coming from the sides and give ways to them if the traffic situation is allowed you to do so.

5) The bridge is another common blackspot for traffic accidents and hence traffic jams

- Please keep in lane
- No over-taking is allowed
- Keep distance with vehicles/players

6) The T-shaped inter-section close to Duisburg



If your destination is Duisburg city, turn RIGHT is all you need. Nevertheless, please drive with patience since it is a ubiquitous spot for traffic congestion.


After you have turned left, watch mirror if any vehicles/players coming from your left. Remember to turn on the left indicator.

Part 5: Going into Duisburg city

2 ways are available to enter into Duisburg city. Either way requires to pass through a traffic light (Another common spot of traffic congestion, drive with care and patience)






Method 1 (not preferred):

Despite the distance is shorter, a major traffic congestion is likely to occur with increased player-count at Duisburg city. At worst players may need more than 30 minutes to be able to enter into the city.

Method 2 (preferred):

Although a longer distance is needed together with more traffic lights, such route has less players and allows you to travel directly into the city.

Major PROBLEM in Duisburg:

1) The CURSED intersection


The inter-section is one of the major reasons that the traffic is so heavy in Duisburg city.

2) The service station


Too many players are trying to leave the service station at the same time

3) The garage + 4) The sites of getting delivery jobs





Conclusion: The city definitely needs some sort of re-working LOL

Part 6: General rules when driving at C-D road

1) Always watching mirrors

You will never know what is behind you and what is over-taking you. Players should observe their mirrors frequently.


2) Keep distance

A fundamental but important rule to avoid collision and hence traffic accidents

3) When you have high ping/lag issues, it is better to WARN other players using in-game banner so that they can be extra-careful when driving nearby you.

Here is an example:


4) Obey traffic lights (self-explanatory)

5) Learn to over-take PROPERLY

6) Tips for fixing your vehicle immediately without heading back to the service station

Press Y to open the chat box first, then type "/fix" to fix your truck immediately. Please be noted that such function can only be activated every 10 minutes (600 seconds).

Final words

I understood that this guide is redundant for those who already got a driving licence in real life or for those who already familiar with this game. However, players need to understand that "arse-holes" exist everywhere. Certain portion of players won't listen/obey the traffic rules, not to say ETS2MP is only a virtual online game. Such results in players affected may feel very frustrated, even infuriating.

Don't forget report button is right there by pressing TAB

[KoJesko]

This is a great guide, TMP should really have an official guide like this. Can you update it for the recent dramatic changes?