Road signs in Germany

Road sign gantry with variable-message signs on the A 3 in Frankfurt am Main

Traffic signs, installations, and symbols used in Germany are prescribed by the Road Traffic Regulation (StVO) (German: Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung) and the Traffic Signs Catalog (VzKat) (German: Verkehrszeichenkatalog).[1][2][3]

§§ 39 to 43 of the StVO regulate the effect of traffic signs and installations. Annexes 1 to 3 illustrate most danger, regulatory, and directional signs and annex 4 illustrates the traffic installations. Other traffic signs and installations not specified in the StVO, primarily specific supplementary signs, are published in the VzKat.[1]

The latest version of the VzKat was issued in May 2017[2] as the annex to the General Administrative Rules for the Road Traffic Regulation (VwV-StVO) (German: Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung).[4]

The StVO, the VwV-StVO and the VzKat are supported by technical rules (German: Technische Regelwerke), mostly published by the Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen (FGSV), especially:

  • The Guidelines for Directional Signage outside of Motorways (RWB[5][6]) (German: Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung außerhalb von Autobahnen)
  • The Guidelines for Directional Signage on Motorways (RWBA[7][8]) (German: Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung auf Autobahnen)
  • The Guidelines for touristic Signage (RtB[9]) (German: Richtlinien für die touristische Beschilderung)
  • The Guidelines for Signage for detours (RUB[10][11]) (German: Richtlinien für Umleitungsbeschilderungen)
  • The Guidelines for the Marking of Roads (RMS-1[12], RMS-2[13] and RMS-A[14]) (German: Richtlinien für die Markierung von Straßen)
  • The Guidelines for Traffic Signals (RiLSA[15][16]) (German: Richtlinien für Lichtsignalanlagen)
  • The Guidelines for the safety of road construction sites (RSA[17]) (German: Richtlinien für die verkehrsrechtliche Sicherung von Arbeitsstellen an Straßen)

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 (for speed limits, maximum heights, etc.).[2]

Overview

General symbols

Symbols pursuant to § 39 paragraphs 7, 10, and 11 of the StVO:[1]

Danger signs

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.

Regulatory signs

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.

Directional signs

Directional signs pursuant to part 4 of the VzKat which includes permissible variations of signs listed in annex 4 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.

Road equipment

Additional road signs

Traffic rules

Priority

Reißverschlussverfahren[20]
"Zipper rule" for one-way traffic merging & two-way traffic priorities

Environmental factors

Yield as necessary to not endanger themselves or other road users

Traffic priority – priority roads

Priority traffic does not yield, signal all turns

Other factors

Yield or reduce speed as necessary[21]

Vehicle classifications & specifics

Official (base) Symbols in Germany as per Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen[18]

Basic

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 but trucks, as well.

A red ring is also a traffic sign itself: No vehicles (of any type) permitted, pushing motorcycles/mopeds/bicycles permitted

Bicycles & mopeds

Motorcycles

Classified as above/below 500 cc motor size, and with or without sidecar

Cars/automobiles

Personenkraftwagen – Pkw[23] – "Powered car for (the transport of) persons"; e.g., cars/automobiles

Recreational vehicles, farm equipment or animal powered

Trucks & lorries

Lastkraftwagen – Lkw – (literally "powered car for loads", e.g., truck, lorry, semi, tractor-trailer)

Kraftfahrzeuge (Kfz)[24] 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

Traffic restrictions & allowances for vehicles (generally larger) than cars

Dangerous or hazardous cargos

Buses, public transit & rail

Buses (generally) and trains (always) have the priority/right-of-way

Others

Traffic regulations

Basic Traffic Controls

Passing & Overtaking

Other

Autobahn

German Limited Access Highway – Blue Background[25]

Signs used on Autobahn

Signs leading to Autobahn

other signs

Signs of limited access roads

Note: Though road design of Kraftfahrstraße is comparable to Autobahn, speed limit is mandatory, signposting is similar but has yellow background.

Bundesstraße – non-limited access highways or main roads – yellow background

Urban or built-up areas

Fahrtbahn/Streifen – driving lane controls

Roadway lanes delineated by lines for/of single vehicle width

Dedicated lane use required for ...

Special zones

Stopping, waiting, parking

Parking is considered any stop exceeding three minutes.

No Stopping and parking

No waiting/standing longer than 3 minutes on traffic lanes exept for loading/unloading

Bus stop and taxi zones

Road markings/lines

Intersections & Crosswalks

[26]

Driving Lanes

Information signs

Informational signs

Additional signs

Arrows

Distances

Dangers

Special regulations

Road equipment

Obsolete signs

Obsolete signs since 2017

[18]

Obsolete signs since 2013

[18]

Old signs (prior to 1992)

Warning signs

Regulatory signs

Information signs

Signs for traffic diversion

References

  1. ^ a b c "Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen". Federal Ministry of Transport. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "VzKat 2017" (in German). 5 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "German Road Traffic Regulations (Translation)" (PDF). Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (VwV-StVO)". Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  5. ^ "RWB 2000". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  6. ^ "RWB 2000 - Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung außerhalb von Autobahnen". www.verkehrsblatt.de. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  7. ^ "RWBA 2000". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  8. ^ "RWBA - Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung auf Bundesautobahnen". www.verkehrsblatt.de. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  9. ^ "RtB". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  10. ^ "RUB". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  11. ^ "RUB 2021 - Richtlinien für Umleitungsbeschilderungen (RUB)". www.verkehrsblatt.de. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  12. ^ "RMS-1". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  13. ^ "RMS-2". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  14. ^ "RMS - Teil A: Autobahnen". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  15. ^ "RiLSA". www.fgsv-verlag.de (in German). Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Guidelines for Traffic Signals" (PDF). Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  17. ^ "RSA 21". www.fgsv-verlag.de. Retrieved 15 May 2024. |language=de
  18. ^ a b c d e f g "Änderungen im Verkehrszeichenkatalog 2017 zu 1992" [Changes in traffic signs 2017 to 1992]. Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen.
  19. ^ "§ 40 StVO 2013 – Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de.
  20. ^ de:Reißverschlussverfahren[circular reference]
  21. ^ "§ 39 StVO 2013 – Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de.
  22. ^ "German Road Signs: Guide to Parking & Road Signs in Germany". Auto Europe. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
  23. ^ "Personenkraftwagen". 11 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
  24. ^ "Kraftfahrzeug". 20 April 2018 – via Wikipedia.
  25. ^ "Brian's Guide to Getting Around Germany – The Autobahn". www.gettingaroundgermany.info.
  26. ^ de:Straßenmarkierung[circular reference]
  27. ^ "§ 40 StVO 2013 – Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de.