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

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General symbols

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

Danger signs

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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

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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

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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

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Additional road signs

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Traffic rules

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Priority

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

Environmental factors

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Yield as necessary to not endanger themselves or other road users

Traffic priority – priority roads

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Priority traffic does not yield, signal all turns

Other factors

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Yield or reduce speed as necessary[21]

Vehicle classifications & specifics

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

Basic

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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

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Motorcycles

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

Cars/automobiles

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

Recreational vehicles, farm equipment or animal powered

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Trucks & lorries

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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

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Dangerous or hazardous cargos

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Buses, public transit & rail

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

Others

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Traffic regulations

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Basic Traffic Controls

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Other

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Autobahn

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German Limited Access Highway – Blue Background[25]

Signs used on Autobahn

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Signs leading to Autobahn

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other signs

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Signs of limited access roads

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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

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Urban or built-up areas

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Fahrtbahn/Streifen – driving lane controls

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Roadway lanes delineated by lines for/of single vehicle width

Dedicated lane use required for ...

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Special zones

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Stopping, waiting, parking

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Parking is considered any stop exceeding three minutes.

No Stopping and parking

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

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Bus stop and taxi zones

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Road markings/lines

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Intersections & Crosswalks

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[26]

Driving Lanes

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Information signs

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Informational signs

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Additional signs

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Arrows

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Distances

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Dangers

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Special regulations

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Road equipment

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Obsolete signs

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Obsolete signs since 2017

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[18]

Obsolete signs since 2013

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[18]

Old signs (prior to 1992)

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Warning signs

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Regulatory signs

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Information signs

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Signs for traffic diversion

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References

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  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.
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