Road signs in Germany
Road signs and symbols used in Germany are prescribed under the Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) (German Road Traffic Act) and the Katalog der Verkehrszeichen (VzKat) (Catalog of Traffic Signs).[1][2]
Paragraph 9 of the StVO states that "The traffic signs and installations illustrated in annexes 1 to 4 may also be installed with the alternatives described in the Catalog of Traffic Signs." (The Catalog of Traffic Signs (VZKat) is published in the Federal Ministry of Transport Gazette by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building, and Infrastructure.) The VzKat was issued in May 2017[2] under the Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung] (VwV-StVO) (general administrative regulations for the Road Traffic Act).[3]
All signs have assigned numbers. The suffix number after the hyphen refers to the variation of the sign; the suffix on signs with variable numbers is the number depicted on the sign (e.g. speed limit, maximum height, etc.).[2]
Symbols[edit]
Symbols pursuant to paragraphs 7, 10, and 11 of the StVO:[1]
Multi-track motor vehicles
Bicycle utilized for the transport of goods or persons - freight bicycle
Passenger vehicles or motorcycles with a sidecar which are occupied by at least three persons - high occupancy vehicle
Passenger vehicle towing a trailer
Motor vehicles and vehicle combinations which cannot or may not drive faster than 25 km/h
Motorcycles - also with a sidecar - mopeds, and motorized bicycles
One-seated two-wheeled mopeds with an electric motor which automatically regulates its design speed to no more than 25 km/h - E-Bikes -
Small electric vehicles pursuant to the Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge-Verordnung (eKFV) (Small Electric Vehicle Act)
Danger signs[edit]
Danger signs pursuant to part 2 of the VzKat which includes permissible variations of signs listed in annex 1 of the StVO. When one sign has two sign numbers, the first number is the illustrated sign while the latter number is a mirrored or slightly altered version of the sign.
General danger signs[edit]
Sign 101-10 / 101-20
Aircraft
Sign 101-11 / 101-21
Pedestrian crosswalkSign 101-12 / 101-22
CattleSign 101-13 / 101-23
EquestriansSign 101-14 / 101-24
AmphibiansSign 101-15 / 101-25
RockfallSign 101-51
Slipperiness due to snow or iceSign 101-52
Grit/gravel at the edge of the roadSign 101-53
Shore or riverbankSIgn 101-55
Movable bridgeSign 102
Intersection with priority to the rightSign 103-10 / 103-20
CurveSign 105-10 / 105-20
Double curveSign 108-10
DescentSign 110-12
AscentSign 112
Uneven roadSign 114
Slipperiness when road is wet or dirtySign 117-10 / 117-20
CrosswindSign 123
Construction areaSign 124
Traffic jamsSign 131
Traffic signalsSign 133-10 / 133-20
PedestriansSign 136-10 / 136-20
ChildrenSign 138-10 / 138-20
CyclesSign 142-10 / 142-20
Wild animals
Special danger signs approaching railroad crossings[edit]
Sign 151
Railroad crossingSign 156-10 / 156-20
Railroad crossing with three-striped warning - 240 m distanceSign 156-11 / 156-21
Railroad crossing with three-striped warning - custom distanceSign 157-10 / 157-20
Three-striped warning for railroad crossing - 240 m distanceSign 157-11 / 157-21
Three-striped warning for railroad crossing - custom distanceSign 159-10 / 159-20
Two-striped warning for railroad crossing - 160 m distanceSign 159-11 / 159-21
Two-striped warning for railroad crossing - custom distanceSign 162-10 / 162-20
One-striped warning for railroad crossing - 80 m distanceSign 162-11 / 162-21
One-striped warning for railroad crossing - custom distance
Regulatory signs[edit]
Regulatory signs pursuant to part 3 of the VzKat which includes permissible variations of signs listed in annex 2 of the StVO. When one sign has two sign numbers, the first number is the illustrated sign while the latter number is a mirrored or slightly altered version of the sign.
Waiting and stopping requirements[edit]
Sign 201-50 / 201-52
Crossbuck. Yield the right-of-way to railborne vehiclesSign 201-51 / 201-53
Crossbuck with lightning rod. Yield the right-of-way to railborne vehicles; the tracks possess overhead electrical wiresSign 206
Stop. Yield the right-of-way.
Mandatory direction of travel[edit]
Sign 215
RoundaboutSign 220-10 / 220-20
One-way street
Mandatory passing[edit]
Drivable shoulders, bus stops, and taxi stands[edit]
Sign 223.1-50 - 223.1-52
Drive on the shoulderSign 224
Bus stopSign 224-51
Bus stop for school buses during designated timesSign 229 - 229-31
Taxi stand
Dedicated paths and lanes[edit]
Sign 237
Bicycle pathSign 238
Equestrian pathSign 239
SidewalkSign 242.1
Begin of a pedestrian zoneSign 242.2
End of a pedestrian zoneSign 244.1
Begin of a bicycle streetSign 244.2
End of a bicycle streetSign 245
Bus lane
Priority[edit]
Reißverschlussverfahren[4]
"Zipper Rule" for 1-Way Traffic Merging & 2-Way Traffic Priorities
Two way traffic ahead (Red indicates who must yield)
Environmental factors[edit]
Yield as necessary to not endanger yourself or other road users
Splitt, Schotter
Loose chippings
Traffic priority - priority roads[edit]
Priority Travel Does Not Yield, Signal All Turns
Other factors[edit]
Yield or Reduce Speed as Necessary [5]
Stau/Verkehrstau
Traffic jams/queues possibleGefälle
Steep Grade/Hill Down (10%)Flugbetrieb
Low-flying aircraft, Aircraft noise & lights may distract driversSeitenwind
Crosswinds from the right possibleUfer
Road may end suddenly in a water area (quay or ferry slip ahead)Unzureichendes Lichtraumprofil
Narrowed clearance by treesBewegliche Brücke
Opening or swing bridge aheadWildwechsel
Wild animals possible[6]
Vehicle classifications & specifics[edit]
Official (base) Symbols in Germany as per Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen[7]
Basic[edit]
Red Ring
In addition to any sign/placard, the Red Ring forbids (in general) the item noted and anything of greater size or value; i.e., if a car is pictured, then not only are cars not permitted verboten but also trucks too.
A Red Ring is also a traffic sign itself: No Vehicles (of any type) Permitted, Pushing Motorcycles/Mopeds/Bicycles Permitted
Bicycles & mopeds[edit]
Motorcycles[edit]
Classified as above/below 500 cc motor size, and with or without sidecar
Cars/automobiles[edit]
Personenkraftwagen - Pkw[8] – "Powered Car for (the transport of) Persons"; e.g., cars/automobiles
Recreational vehicles, farm equipment or animal powered[edit]
Trucks & lorries[edit]
Lastkraftwagen - Lkw[9] – "Powered Car for Loads", e.g., truck, lorry, semi, tractor-trailer
Kraftfahrzeuge (Kfz)[10] mit einer zulässigen Gesamtmasse über 3,5 t, einschließlich ihrer Anhänger, und Zugmaschinen, ausgenommen Personenkraftwagen und Kraftomnibusse – Motor vehicles with a maximum authorized mass of more than 3,5 t, including their trailers, and tractors other than cars and buses
Sattelkraftfahrzeuge[11]
Semi/Tractor-Trailer
Restrictions & allowances for vehicles (generally larger) than cars[edit]
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Breite
Width Limit (including wing mirrors)
Dangerous or hazardous cargos[edit]
Buses, public transit & rail[edit]
Buses (generally) and trains (always) have the priority/right of way[12]
Others[edit]
[edit]
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Basics[edit]
Basic Traffic Controls
Verbot der Einfahrt
Do Not EnterVerbot des Wendens
No U-turns
Passing & Overtaking
Other
Umwelt
Low-emission zone / Environmental ZoneEnd of a low-emission zone
Schneeketten sind vorgeschrieben
Snow chains must be carried in vehicle
Autobahn[edit]
German Limited Access Highway - Blue Background[13]
Signs used on Autobahn
Autobahn distance sign (usually after entrance)
Autobahn sign indicating next exit has a service area nearby
Autobahn sign
announcing next exitAutobahn reminder exit sign, showing next exit ahead
Autobahn marker (300m before exit)
Autobahn marker (200m before exit)
Autobahn marker (100m before exit)
Tunnel ahead
Breakdown bay (used only on highways without emergency shoulder or in larger construction areas)
Signs leading to Autobahn
Vorwegweiser zur Autobahn
Autobahn junction entrance signVorwegweiser zur Autobahn
Autobahn junction entrance sign
other signs
Autobahn Detour
Signs of federal highways
Note: Though road design of Kraftfahrstrasse is comparable to Autobahn, speed limit is mandatory, signposting is similar but has yellow background.
Kraftfahrstraße
Fast traffic highway (Motor vehicles capable of speeds exceeding 60 km/h only)End of fast traffic highway
Bundesstraße - non-limited access highways or main roads - yellow background[edit]
Bundesstraße
Country road (non-isolated highway) route number (35)Signpost at junction leading onto a minor road
Sign on approaches to junctions
Sign on approaches to junctions
Sign on approaches to junctions (lanes)
Detour sign (U3)
Umleitung
Detour signEnd of Detour
Planskizze
Layout of Detour routeEnd of detour (symbol)
European road number sign (E 36)
Urban or built-up areas[edit]
Start Urban Area (50 km/h speed limit)
Town sign: End of Urban Area (here with distance to next town)
Fußgängerüberweg
Pedestrian crossingFußgängerüberweg
Pedestrian crossingSackgasse
No through roadStreet light warning marker (lamp will not remain lit all night)
Traffic priority - priority roads[edit]
Priority Travel Does Not Yield, Signal All Turns
Paved surfaces - 'edge to edge' controls[edit]
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Fahrtbahn/Streifen - driving lane controls[edit]
Roadway lanes delineated by lines for/of single vehicle width
Kreisverkehr
Roundabout (Yield to traffic in circle, signal only on exit)Einbahnstraße
One-way streetUse of hard shoulder as driving lane permitted
No use of hard shoulder as driving lane permitted
Dedicated lane use required for ...[edit]
Fußwege
Footway / Pedestrian laneGemeinsamer Fuß- und Radweg
Shared use pathRadweg
Bicycle laneBussonderfahrstreifen
Bus laneSonderweg Reiter
Bridleway
Special zones[edit]
Beginn einer Fußgängerzone
Pedestrian zoneBeginn der Fahrradstraße
Bicyclist zoneEnd of bicyclist zone
Stopping, waiting, parking[edit]
Parking is considered any stop exceeding three minutes.
Absolutely no stopping or waiting on traffic lanes (Emergency Excepted)
No waiting/standing longer than 3 minutes on traffic lanes - "Loading/Unloading & Pick-up/Drop-off Zone"
Eingeschränktes Halteverbot
No parking. Waiting is allowed.
Bus Stop & Taxi Zones
School bus stop: 15 m parking prohibition prior to and behind this sign (30 m altogether)
Taxi rank (no stopping or parking allowed)
Road markings/lines[edit]
Intersections & Crosswalks[14]
Fußgängerüberweg
Pedestrian crossing
Driving Lanes
Information signs[edit]
Parking place
Place name (information only, does not imply a speed limit)
Tourist sign (here: referring to the former East-West German border)
Stop - customs
Informational signs[edit]
Petrol station with LPG
Petrol station with CNG
Motorway hotel
Motorway restaurant
Motorway refreshments
Base traffic symbols[edit]
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Standardized traffic symbols[edit]
Arrows
Fußgänger Gehweg gegenüber benutzen
Use Sidewalk on left side of roadwayDirectional indications by arrows, detour signs, three-quarter circle[15]
Two-way cycle route crossing road
Directional indications by arrows, detour signs, semicircle[15]
2 km ahead[16]
Late merge in 200m
Risk of accident
Migratory toad crossing
Construction site exit
Spillage on road
Right of way changed
Industrial area (trains have priority)
Port area (rail traffic has priority)
Skiers allowed to cross road
Large wagons can park here without the usual two week temporal parking restriction
Caravans can park here without the usual two week temporal parking restriction
Cyclists dismount
Green wave at ...km/h
Pass over verges/shoulder
End of passing over verges/shoulder
Tunnel category B
Tunnel category C
Tunnel category D
Tunnel category E
Disabled with permit No. ... allowed
Emergency vehicles allowed
Ambulances allowed
Delivery vehicles allowed
Agricultural vehicles allowed
Forestry vehicles allowed
Agricultural and forestry vehicles allowed
Operational and utility vehicles allowed
Electric vehicles while charging allowed
Electric vehicles allowed
Construction vehicles allowed
Access to construction site allowed
Access to neighbouring construction site allowed
Ferry users allowed
Skiers crossing road at times shown
Parking with disc for 2 hours
Parking with disc in marked zone for 2 hours
Working days at times shown
Working days at times shown
Sundays and public holidays, at times shown
School bus (at times shown)
Disabled users only
Disabled with permit No. ... only
Number of taxis
Electric vehicles being charged (with number)
Electric vehicles (with number)
Parking allowed in marked areas
Only with parking ticket
On the verges/shoulder
For cyclists and moped riders
Grit on road
No parking on verges/shoulder
Road equipment[edit]
Retired signs[edit]
Obsolete signs since 2017 [15]
Buses crossing
Two-way cycle route running parallel to road
Risk of ice
Obsolete signs since 2013 [15]
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead
Soft verges
Soft verges
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen". Federal Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ a b c "VzKat 2017" (in German). 5 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung] (VwV-StVO)". Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ de:Reißverschlussverfahren[circular reference]
- ^ "§ 39 StVO 2013 - Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de.
- ^ "German Road Signs: Guide to Parking & Road Signs in Germany". Auto Europe. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ name="LoC"www.bast.de
- ^ "Personenkraftwagen". 11 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
- ^ "Lastkraftwagen". 16 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
- ^ "Kraftfahrzeug". 20 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
- ^ "Sattelzug". 25 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
- ^ /Traffic: Priority (right of way)
- ^ "Brian's Guide to Getting Around Germany - The Autobahn". www.gettingaroundgermany.info.
- ^ de:Straßenmarkierung[circular reference]
- ^ a b c d "www.bast.de".
- ^ "§ 40 StVO 2013 - Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de.
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