Read This First!All reasonable care has been exercised in translation. However, the owner of this page is in no way liable for errors. |
The signs shown here are not exhaustive. Other signage occurs, but a familiarity with the signs on this page will serve well as a basis for interpreting other just about all other signs.
Signs are by and large pictographic, i.e. they convey a message by a picture, rather than words. This is partly out of necessity as Europeans don't have a common spoken or written language; and partly out of the recognition that a picture tells a thousand words.
Cars and other multi-track vehicles |
Motor vehicles of greater than 3.5 t except buses and passenger cars |
Cyclists |
Pedestrians |
Riders |
Livestock |
Trams |
Buses |
Passenger cars |
Passenger cars with Trailer |
Trucks with Trailers |
Motor vehicles with a maximum speed of less than 25kmh |
Motorcycles; possibly with sidecars. Also motor scooters |
Motor scooters |
Warning signs appear before a particular hazard; between 200 and 250m before the hazard outside of built-up areas or just prior to the hazard in built-up areas.
If the hazard is closer than 200m outside a built-up area,
then the warning sign is augmented by a distance sign such
as |
If the hazard persists for some distance, then is may also be
augmented by a sign such as |
Traffic Hazard |
Sample hazard detail supplementary signs |
|
Junction with right of way from right |
Curve (to right) |
S-Bend (first to right) |
Steep descent |
Steep climb |
Uneven surface |
Slippery snow or ice |
Slippery when wet or dirty |
Falling rocks |
Loose surface |
(Strong) Side winds |
Road narrows |
Road narrows on right |
Roadworks |
Traffic jam (possible) |
On-coming traffic Undivided road |
Moving bridge |
Shoreline |
Traffic lights |
Pedestrians |
Pedestrian crossing |
Children |
Cyclists crossing |
Livestock |
Wildlife |
Aircraft |
Railway level crossing with (boom)gates |
Railway level crossing without gates |
240 m before level crossing with gates |
240 m before level crossing without gates |
then 160m before crossing |
and 80m before crossing |
Give Way Advises of cycle traffic |
STOP Possible supplementary |
On-coming traffic has right-of-way Advises of priority traffic flow |
Right turn |
Turn right |
Straight-ahead or right |
Roundabout |
One-way If the limit is 30kmh or less, cycle traffic may be permitted in both directions |
Keep right |
Bus/Tram stop |
Taxi stand | |
Cyclists |
Riders |
Pedestrians |
Shared footpath and cycleway |
Divided footpath and cycleway |
Start pedestrian zone |
Start of cycle path |
End of cycle path | |
End pedestrian zone |
Designates low-emission vehicles exempt from restriction | |
Bus lane |
Restrictions may be relaxed by supplementary signs such as the above for cycles, with the word frei. |
Vehicles of all types prohibited |
Supplementary sign Road reserve is a recreation area |
Cars and multi-track vehicles prohibited |
Trucks etc over 3.5t prohibited |
Cyclists prohibited |
Motorcycles, etc prohibited |
Pedestrians prohibited |
Combined prohibition Motor cycles and cars |
Placarded loads prohibited |
Vehicles over 5.5 t actual prohibited |
Permissible axle load |
Width limit |
Height limit |
Length limit |
NO ENTRY |
Snow chains must be carried |
Vehicles with water-polluting loads prohibited |
Traffic prohibition under smog conditions |
No U-turns |
Minimum following distance | |
Speed limit May be supplemented by i.e. when wet |
Speed restriction zone start |
Speed restriction zone ends |
Minimum speed (mandatory) |
Overtaking prohibited for all vehicles |
Overtaking prohibited for vehicles over 3.5t |
Possible supplementary sign indicating distance for which restriction applies | ||
Ends corresponding maximum speed restriction |
Ends corresponding minimum speed restriction | |
Ends overtaing restriction |
Ends overtaing restriction |
Ends ALL restrictions |
No stopping |
Loading zone |
Restriction for a zone |
Prohibits stopping on verge. | ||
Parking disc required |
Ends loading zone restriction |
|
Pedestrian crossing |
Stop lines |
Lane and road boundary marking |
directional lane marking Through-traffic may not cross from side A to B. |
Lane markings for turns |
Indication of lane end and/or merge |
Cross-hatched area may not be used by vehicles |
Marking of shortened/extended bus stop |
Priority road |
Supplementary sign to indicate direction of priority traffic |
End of priority road |
Priority over on-coming traffic |
Right of way at next intersection/junction |
Start |
Built-up areas known as localities have
an urban speed limit of 50kmh applies throughout,
except as noted on the regulatory signs on specific
roads in the area.
The reverse (departing side) side of the locality sign often shows the distance to the next locality as well as terminating the zone. |
End |
Parking area may be restricted by supplementary signs |
Parking on footpath |
Park & Ride |
Hikers' car park |
Start of zone |
A walking-speed limit applies to all vehicles. The zone is available as an open space for recreation. Pedestrians have right of way but may not unduly delay the passage of vehicles. Vehicles may not park in the delineated roadway other than to load and unload. |
End of zone |
Start Autobahn on all approaches |
End Autobahn on all exits |
Exit directional |
Start motorway (Limited-access highway) on all approaches and along the motorway |
End Motorway on all exits/off-ramps |
Exit identification |
At pedestrian crossing |
On one-way street indicating direction |
Warning to drivers of vehicles carrying water-polluting loads to take extra care Catchment area or nature preserve |
Pedestrian under-/over-pass |
Traffic warden Crossing guard |
No through road |
First-aid post |
Breakdown assistance |
Police |
Autobahn motel |
Autobahn restaurant |
Autobahn Kiosk |
Start | An advisory limit applies even under good conditions. It is recommended that this speed not be exceeded at any time. |
End |
Identifies locality in the absence of other signs |
Tourist information |
Soft shoulder |
Indicates street lighting is not illuminated all night |
Border/Customs Control |
Information at border crossing 50kmh limit in built-up areas 100kmh outside 130kmh advisory on Autobahn |
National highway number Bundesstraße |
Autobahn number |
Autobahn junction number |
European highway number |
Directional sign on Bundesstraße |
Other main traffic direction |
Minor traffic direction |
For particular vehicle type |
To Autobahn |
Local major traffic destination | ||
Direction board approaching/at major intersections |
Direction sign within locality | ||
Another direction sign within locality |
|
Choose the correct lane early |
To Autobahn |
For particular traffic types |
Turnoff advice with junction number |
Vehicle service depot turnoff |
Autobahn exit supplementary sign |
Identifies major Autobahn junction supplementary sign |
Exit advice |
Warning of exit at every 100 m before exit |
Distance board |
Start of detour and at junctions as necessary |
Numbered detour |
Schematic showing detour |
Detour advisory may have supplementary distance or direction sign | ||
End detour |
Traffic conditions reports are broadcast on FM radio. But usually only in German.
Identifies alternate route |
Sign indicating route back to Autobahn |
Recommended alternate routes |
Indicates complex traffic routing |
Diversion of traffic to opposite side. Similar sign for diversion back |
Boom gate |
Guide post |
Traffic cone |
Mobile blocking board |
Blocking board with flashing direction light |
Left side |
Right side |
Direction arrows in corner/bend |
Boards affixed to some vehicles when parked |