Slow worms look like snakes but they are legless lizards. Uniquely they're able to shed their tail to distract and escape predators.
They aren't poisonous or dangerous to humans. I see them quite often on forest walks here in southern Germany.

Despite their name they can move pretty fast.
Another name for them is blindworm, but that one is also misleading because they aren't blind.

I heard the name blindworm comes from "blinding/shining" because their scales have a copper tone that shines brightly when it reflects sunlight. Another explanation I saw was that it refers to their small eyes.