First Aid training is mandatory in Germany if you wish to obtain a driver's licence, and every vehicle has to carry a first aid kit. German citizens and doctors (even if the doctors are not German citizens) have a duty to rescue. If there is an accident on the autobahn, they have to stop and offer help to whatever degree possible, unless an ambulance is already on the scene.
It is against the law to stop for any reason on the autobahn, except for emergencies and when it can not be avoided, like in the case of traffic jams or being involved in an accident. This includes stopping on emergency lanes.
Drivers may face fines and a driving licence removal for up to 6 months should they come to a stop that was deemed unnecessary by the police. Running out of fuel is deemed unnecessary as filling stations are available every 50-55km.
In some cases coming to a standstill may be considered a crime and the driver could receive a prison sentence of up to 5 years, depending on the circumstances and consequences of stopping.
Germany's autobahn network has a total length of about 12,845 kilometers (7,982 miles) in 2012, which ranks it among the most dense and longest systems in the world.