Below
is a comprehensive guide of German traffic signs, signals, and markings. This
guide is
designed for both the short-term tourist wanting to learn German traffic
signs in preparation for a trip as well as for someone who is studying to
get a German or US military driver's license. This page may also
be of interest to road and sign aficionados.
This topic is divided into two pages. On these pages:
SIGNS
Germany has a
comprehensive and uniform traffic sign system. All signs have
standard shapes and colors and use easy-to-understand international
pictograms and symbols. The sign system was overhauled in the
early '90s to more closely conform with European standards.
Below, you will
find a complete guide of German traffic signs with their official
meaning and additional notes. These signs are from the official German traffic code and include all updates through 2007.
Officially,
German traffic signs are divided into three major categories: warning
signs,
regulation signs, and guide signs. However, I have divided the sign
collection into several additional categories and I've placed each sign
where it most logically belongs regardless of its official designation.
In the German
traffic code, each sign is assigned an official number. This
number is used on traffic tickets and accident reports when a sign is
involved in the incident. You can obtain the official sign number
for each sign on this page by holding your mouse over the sign for a
second (works with most web browsers).
Vehicle class symbols
Traffic signs in Germany employ a set of standard symbols to indicate
the type or class of vehicle being referred to on the sign. Some
of the symbols are inclusive in that they encompass several lesser
classes as well. The following table outlines these symbols and
their meanings:
|
Symbol |
Description |
Other
lesser included classes |
 |
Motor
vehicles
Includes all multi-track motorized vehicles |
|
 |
Passenger
vehicles
Includes all cars and light trucks |
|
 |
Vehicles
over 3.5t
Includes all vehicles with a permitted gross weight over 3.5
tonnes, their trailers, and any other vehicle that does not
qualify as a passenger vehicle; it specifically does not include
buses |
 |
 |
Motorcycles
Includes motorcycles, motorcycles with sidecars, and mopeds |
 |
The following are
the remaining vehicle class symbols:
 |
|
 |
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|
Passenger
vehicles with trailers |
Vehicles over 3.5t with trailers |
Slow
moving vehicles
Includes tractors and other vehicles that cannot exceed
25 km/h |
Motor
homes
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Cattle/animals
|
Riders |
Pedestrians |
Tracked
military vehicles |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Streetcars |
Rail
vehicles |
Vehicles with marked hazardous cargo |
Vehicles
carrying
more than 3000 liters of water-pollutants |
|
|
Supplemental signs
The German sign
system uses a fair amount of "supplemental signs" (Zusatzschild).
These are black and white rectangular or square signs mounted below a
parent sign and are used to modify or give additional information, such as exemptions,
restrictions, or more specific details, regarding the condition shown on
the parent sign. Supplemental signs use
symbols wherever possible, but most supplemental signs use
words. To help you decipher these signs, a complete vocabulary
list is provided at
the end of the signs section.
Because of the
large number of supplemental signs, not all of them are shown on this
page. Instead, I've included the most frequent ones in their most
common usage, especially the ones that use symbols.
The most common
use for supplemental signs is for distances. There are two such
signs-- the distance to the parent sign's condition, and the
duration of the condition:
 |
 |
Distance
to the condition shown
on the parent sign |
Duration
(length) of the condition
shown on the parent sign |
Here are some
examples to better illustrate the difference between the two types of
distance signs:
 |
 |
 |
 |
Traffic
signals
200 meters ahead |
Rough road
next
800 meters |
Autobahn
ends
2 kilometers ahead |
No passing
next
1 kilometer |
|
|
|
|
|
Warning signs
This section
contains signs that give advance warning of hazards on or near the road.
The standard shape for warning signs in
Germany is a red triangle.
 |
General danger
This sign marks an area where extra caution should be used. It
is rarely used by itself; instead, a supplemental sign is
usually mounted beneath this sign with information on a specific
hazard for which no individual sign exists. Some examples
of the more common combinations are below. |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Accident hazard
Marks an area where a high number of accidents have occurred |
Frog
crossing
The road ahead is used by migrating frogs |
Tree
overhang
Drivers of trucks and other high-profile vehicles should beware
of low trees |
Winter sports along road
Watch out for people and be aware that the road may not be
salted or sanded |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Soft
shoulder
Avoid driving on the shoulder |
Soft
shoulder for heavy vehicles
|
Rough road edge
There is a rough drop-off along the edge of the road |
Sliding danger
Used to warn of a downhill section with strong side winds that
may cause a vehicle pulling a trailer to lose control |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Curve (left) |
Curve
(right) |
Double curve
First curve is to the left |
Double curve
First curve is to the right |
|
   |
   |
Lane
shift (left)
All lanes shift to the left |
Lane
shift (right)
All lanes shift to the right |
|
   |
   |
Lane
crossover (left)
All lanes cross over the median to the left |
Lane
crossover (right)
All lanes cross over the median to the right |
|
   |
  |
Lane
split
Left lane(s) crosses over to left side of median;
right lane(s) remains on right side of median |
Road
shift
Traffic is shifted briefly to the left/right, then back again. |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Steep upgrade
The degree of the ascent is shown |
Steep
downgrade
The degree of the decent is shown; prepare to downshift |
Falling
rocks
Watch out for rocks on the road and do not stop or park |
Strong
cross wind
Prepare to adjust steering as necessary and avoid passing |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Rough road |
Beware of
ice/snow
The road or bridge ahead freezes easily
(applicable during Winter months) |
Slippery when
wet or dirty
Avoid sudden braking, accelerating, or steering |
Loose
gravel
Avoid sudden braking, accelerating, or steering |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Road
work
Watch for workers, machinery, dirt, or mud on the roadway |
Traffic signals ahead
Be prepared to stop |
Quay/riverbank
There is an unguarded quay, riverbank, or landing ahead or
alongside the road |
Drawbridge
Be prepared to stop |
|
 |
 |
 |
Pedestrians
Marks a general area where pedestrians may be on or near the
road |
Pedestrian crossing ahead |
Pedestrian crossing
Marks a crosswalk and indicates that pedestrians have the
right-of-way |
|
 |
 |
Watch for children
Posted near schools and playgrounds; reduce speed and be
prepared to stop quickly |
Crossing guards
Marks a crosswalk where school crossing guards may direct
traffic |
|
 |
 |
 |
Wild
animal crossing
Be prepared to stop or swerve suddenly; use low-beam headlights |
Domestic animal
crossing
Watch for animals and mud on the road |
Low-flying
aircraft
Be prepared for sudden noise and, at night, for the glare of
landing lights |
|
 |
 |
 |
Congestion hazard
Marks an area where congestion frequently occurs; be prepared to
slow down or stop |
Bicycle
crossing |
Buses
Watch for buses entering, leaving, or crossing the road |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Two-way traffic
Generally posted where oncoming traffic is unexpected, such as
when coming from a one-way street to a two-way street |
Road
narrows |
Road
narrows (left side) |
Road
narrows (right side) |
|
      |
Two-way traffic
The number of lanes in each direction is shown |
|
      |
|
Left lane
ends |
|
      |
|
Right lane
ends |
|
   |
   |
|
Lane added
(left) |
Lane added
(right) |
|
    |
Lanes
added to another roadway
The lanes from your roadway are added to another roadway; you
will not have to merge |
| |
Railway crossing signs
This section shows
all signs related to railway level crossings.
 |
 |
Guarded
railway crossing ahead
There are barricades or half barricades at the crossing |
Unguarded railway crossing ahead
There are no barricades at the crossing; however, there may be crossing
signals |
|
|
|
|
Railway crossing
approx. 240 meters ahead
These countdown markers are located on the left and right sides of the road
respectively and indicate that the crossing is about 240 meters
ahead; a different distance may be shown on the marker if
applicable |
|
  |
  |
Approx.
160 meters to railway crossing
A
different distance may be shown on the sign if applicable |
Approx. 80
meters to railway crossing
A
different distance may be shown on the sign if applicable |
|
|
|
|
|
Railway
crossing on crossroad (left) |
Railway
crossing on crossroad (right) |
|
  |
  |
Railway crossing (St. Andrew's cross)
Posted at the crossing; you must stop here if a train is
approaching |
Electrified railway crossing
This railroad crossing has electrical wires overhead;
high profile vehicles should exercise caution |
|
|
|
 |
Railway crossing signal
This is now the standard railroad crossing signal in
Germany; yellow indicates a train is approaching-- stop if
possible; red means you must stop and remain stopped until the
signal turns off |
Railway
crossing flasher
This is the old standard railroad crossing signal in
western Germany; you must stop when the red signal flashes |
Railway
crossing flasher
This is the old standard railroad crossing signal in
East Germany; you must stop when the red signal flashes |
| |
Right-of-way signs
This section shows
signs related to right-of-way assignment.
 |
 |
 |
Priority road
You have the right-of-way at all intersections on this
road until cancelled by a "Yield", "Stop", or "End of Priority
Road" sign; outside of urban areas, parking is prohibited on this
road |
End of
priority road
You must yield at all subsequent intersections |
Priority
You have the right-of-way at the next intersection only |
|
 |
 |
Yield
You must give way to traffic on the intersecting road |
Stop
You must come to a complete stop and give way to traffic
on the intersecting road |
|
|
|
Priority road turns (left)
The priority road (wide black line) turns left in the
intersection; the other lines represent other streets at this
intersection |
|
|
|
Priority road turns (right)
The priority road (wide black line) turns right in the
intersection; the other lines represent other streets at this
intersection |
|
|
|
|
Yield to Priority road
The priority road (wide black line) turns in the
intersection; you must yield to traffic following or leaving the
priority road coming from the left or approaching from straight
ahead |
Yield to Priority road
The priority road (wide black line) turns in the
intersection; you must yield to traffic following or leaving the
priority road coming from the right or approaching from straight
ahead |
|
|
|
|
Stop and yield to Priority road
The same rules as "yield to priority road" above apply,
but you must come to a complete stop first |
Stop and yield to Priority road
The same rules as "yield to priority road" above apply,
but you must come to a complete stop first |
|
 |
 |
 |
Yield to roundabout
Traffic in the roundabout has right-of-way |
Yield and watch for bicycles
You must yield to all intersecting traffic, including
traffic on the bicycle path |
Stop ahead
There is a stop sign 100 meters ahead |
|
 |
 |
 |
Unmarked intersection ahead
The next intersection is uncontrolled; yield the
right-of-way to traffic approaching the intersection from the
right |
Priority over oncoming traffic
You have the right-of-way over oncoming traffic along
the narrow one lane road ahead |
Yield to oncoming traffic
You must give way to oncoming traffic along the narrow
one lane road ahead |
| |
Speed limit signs
Below are the various signs related to speed limits.
 |
 |
 |
Maximum speed limit
Shown in kilometers per hour (km/h) |
Speed limit zone
This sign is posted at the entrances to a neighborhood
where the speed limit shown applies to all streets in
the neighborhood until the "End of speed limit zone" sign is
reached |
Conditional speed limit
The speed limit shown is only in effect when the road is
wet |
|
 |
 |
Minimum speed limit
Shown in km/h; you must travel at this speed or faster
unless road, weather, or traffic conditions make it necessary to
drive slower |
Advisory
speed limit
Shown in km/h; indicates the recommended speed limit for
good road, weather, and traffic conditions |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
End of speed limit
The general speed limit now applies |
End of speed limit zone |
End of minimum speed limit |
End of recommended speed limit |
|
     |
Minimum speed limit by lane
A new lane is added ahead and the minimum speed limit(s)
shown applies to
the indicated lane(s) |
|
    |
Minimum speed limit by lane
The minimum speed limit(s) shown apply to the indicated
lane(s) |
|
     |
End of minimum speed limit by lane
These signs also typically indicate a lane ending |
| |
Regulatory signs
This section
contains various signs that provide regulation. In Germany, the standard
shape for most regulatory signs is a circle. A red circle indicates
something is prohibited, while a blue disc indicates something is
required.
|
|
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No passing
You may not overtake other vehicles except bicycles,
mopeds, and motorcycles |
No passing
for vehicles over 3.5t
Vehicles with a permitted gross weight over 3.5 tonnes
are not allowed to overtake any other vehicle except bicycles,
mopeds, and motorcycles |
|
 |
 |
|
No passing
Passing of tractors and other designated slow-moving
vehicles is permitted |
No passing
The no passing restriction applies only to vehicles with
a permitted gross weight over 3.5 tonnes, buses, and any vehicle
pulling a trailer |
No passing
The no passing restriction is in effect only between
8:30am and 6:00pm and applies only to vehicles with a permitted gross
weight over 3.5 tonnes, buses, and any vehicle pulling a trailer |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
End of no passing zone |
End of
no passing zone
for
vehicles over 3.5t |
End of all restrictions
This sign cancels all previous speed limit and passing
restrictions; however, the general speed limit applies |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Road closed
All vehicles are prohibited; a supplemental sign
indicating exceptions to this prohibition often accompanies this
sign |
Motor vehicles prohibited
Applies to all motor vehicles except motorcycles and
mopeds |
Vehicles
over 3.5t prohibited |
Vehicles
over 7.5t prohibited |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Bicycles
prohibited |
Mopeds
prohibited |
Motorcycles and mopeds
prohibited |
Multiple
prohibition
All motor vehicles, including motorcycles and mopeds,
are prohibited |
|
 |
 |
|
Horses
prohibited |
Pedestrians prohibited |
|
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 |
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Vertical clearance
Vehicles, including loads, higher than the indicated
height are prohibited |
Horizontal clearance
Vehicles, including loads, wider than the indicated
width are prohibited |
Length restriction
Vehicles, including loads, longer than the indicated
length are prohibited |
|
    |
Lane
crossover with width restriction
All lanes cross over the median and the width
restriction shown is in effect
for the indicated lane(s) |
|
    |
Lane
shift with width restriction
All lanes shift and the width restriction shown is in
effect
for the indicated lane(s) |
|
 |
 |
Weight limit
Vehicles with an actual composite weight exceeding the
indicated limit are prohibited |
Axle
weight limit
Vehicles exceeding the indicated weight on any axle are
prohibited |
|
 |
 |
 |
Minimum
following distance
Vehicles
with a permitted gross weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes are required
to maintain the indicated minimum following distance |
Hazardous
cargo prohibited
Vehicles transporting marked hazardous materials are
prohibited |
Water
polluting cargo prohibited
Vehicles
transporting more than 3000 liters of water-pollutants are
prohibited |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Emergency traffic
restriction due
to air pollution
Only vehicles displaying a valid emissions inspection
sticker are permitted
(shown only when applicable) |
Traffic restriction zone
for
reduction of air pollution
Only vehicles displaying one of the indicated colored emissions inspection
stickers are permitted |
End of traffic
restriction zone for reduction of air pollution
|
Snow
chains or tires required
A speed limit of 50 km/h applies
(shown only when applicable) |
|
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 |
 |
 |
|
Do
not enter |
One
way street
Traffic on this street must travel in the direction of
the arrow |
One
way street
Bicycles are exempted and may travel in either direction |
One
way street
The street you are on is one way |
|
 |
 |
 |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must turn left |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must turn right |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must turn either left or right |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must continue straight ahead (i.e. no turns) |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must continue straight ahead or turn left
(i.e. no right turn) |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must continue straight ahead or turn right
(i.e. no left turn) |
No U-turn |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must turn left here |
Mandatory
direction of travel
All traffic must turn right here |
Pass
by on left
All traffic must pass the obstacle on the left side
(i.e. keep left) |
Pass
by on right
All traffic must pass the obstacle on the right side
(i.e. keep right) |
|
 |
 |
 |
Shoulder open to traffic
The right-hand shoulder of this roadway can be used as a
traffic lane; this is generally done only during periods of
congestion to provide additional capacity |
Shoulder lane ends
If you are in the shoulder traffic lane, you must merge
to the left immediately |
End
of shoulder lane
Do not drive on the shoulder past this point
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Pedestrian path
Pedestrians only |
Pedestrian zone
Marks the entrance to an area reserved for pedestrians;
all adjacent streets are included until the "End of pedestrian
zone" sign is reached |
End of
pedestrian zone
|
|
  |
 |
 |
Bicycle path
Bicycles only |
Bicycle path
Mopeds also allowed |
End
of bicycle path
|
|
 |
  |
Pedestrian & bicycle path
Pedestrians and bicycles only; both can use the entire
pathway |
Split pedestrian & bicycle path
Pedestrians and bicycles only; pedestrians and cyclists
must keep to the side of the path indicated by the sign |
|
 |
 |
 |
Bus
lane
All other vehicles prohibited |
Bus
lane
This sign shows which lane is reserved for buses |
Bridle path
Horses only |
|
 |
 |
Traffic
calming zone
Marks the beginning of an area where traffic calming
rules apply |
End
of traffic calming zone
|
|
 |
 |
Tunnel
Posted at the entrance to a tunnel and indicates that
low-beam headlights must be turned-on, that U-turns are
prohibited, and that accidents or breakdowns must be moved to a
designated emergency wayside |
Emergency wayside
Marks a roadside bay inside a tunnel for stopping in
case of an emergency or breakdown; all other use is prohibited |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Autobahn entrance
Posted on Autobahn entrance ramps and indicates that
Autobahn traffic regulations begin |
Expressway entrance
Motor vehicles only |
End of
Autobahn
Located on Autobahn exit ramps and indicates that
Autobahn traffic regulations end; may also be used to warn that
the Autobahn ends ahead |
End of
expressway
|
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Continue to page 2 >>
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