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]
§§ 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 VzKat was issued in May 2017[2] under the General Administrative Rules for the Road Traffic Regulation (VwV-StVO) (
German: Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung).[3]
The Guidelines for Directional Signage outside of Motorways (RWB[4][5]) (
German: Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung außerhalb von Autobahnen)
The Guidelines for Directional Signage on
Motorways (RWBA[6][7]) (
German: Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung auf Autobahnen)
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]
Symbols
Symbols pursuant to § 39 paragraphs 7, 10, and 11 of the StVO:[1]
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.
Sign 101 Danger. A supplementary sign can specify the danger.
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.
Sign 201-50 / 201-52 Crossbuck. Yield the right-of-way to railborne vehicles
Sign 201-51 / 201-53 Crossbuck with lightning rod. Yield the right-of-way to railborne vehicles; the tracks possess
overhead electrical wires
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.
Official (base) Symbols in Germany as per Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen[14]
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
Verbot für Fahrzeuge aller Art No vehicles of any kind permitted
Verbot für Kraftwagen und sonstige mehrspurige Kraftfahrzeuge No 2-tracked motor vehicles permitted
Verbot für Fußgänger No pedestrians permitted
Bicycles & mopeds
Radfahrer Bicycles permitted
E-Bikes Electric Bicycles permitted
Mofas Mopeds
Mofas Mopeds permitted
Verbot für Mofas Mopeds forbidden
No Mopeds permitted
Motorcycles
Classified as above/below 500 cc motor size, and with or without sidecar
Krafträder, auch mit Beiwagen, Kleinkrafträder und Mofas Motorcycles (above 500 cc), also with sidecar, small motorcycles (below 500 cc) and mopeds
Motorcycles and Mopeds Permitted
Verbot für Krafträder, auch mit Beiwagen, Kleinkrafträder und Mofas Ban on motorcycles including those with sidecars and mopeds
Cars/automobiles
Personenkraftwagen – Pkw[19] – "Powered car for (the transport of) persons"; e.g., cars/automobiles
Personenkraftwagen (Pkw) Cars
Personenkraftwagen (Pkw) Cars permitted
Verbot für Personenkraftwagen (Pkw)
elektrisch betriebene Fahrzeuge Electric vehicles/cars
Pkw mit Anhänger Cars with trailer
Pkw mit Anhänger
Verbot für Pkw mit Anhänger
Recreational vehicles, farm equipment or animal powered
Wohnmobile Motorhomes & Campers
Kraftfahrzeuge und Züge Farm & Powered Equipment (& Trailers) with less than 25 km/h top speed
Verbot für Kraftfahrzeuge und Züge
Kraftfahrzeuge und Züge Farm & Powered Equipment (& Trailers) Permitted
Gespannfuhrwerke Horse-drawn Wagon
Verbot für Gespannfuhrwerke No Horse-drawn Wagons Permitted
Verbot für Viehtrieb No Cattle Permitted
Verbot für Reiter No Equestrians/Horse Riders Permitted
Trucks & lorries
Lastkraftwagen – Lkw – (literally "powered car for loads", e.g., truck, lorry, semi, tractor-trailer)
Lkw or Kfz
Lkw permitted
No Lkw permitted
Kraftfahrzeuge (Kfz)[20] 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
Lkw mit Anhänger Truck with trailer
Lkw with trailer permitted
Verbot für Lastkraftwagen (Lkw) mit Anhänger No trucks with trailer(s) permitted
Sattelkraftfahrzeuge Semi/tractor-trailer
Single- and double-trailer semis
Restrictions & allowances for vehicles (generally larger) than cars
Massenangabe Weight (7.5 tons)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Masse Total Vehicle Weight Limit (5.5 tonnes)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Achslast Load Limit per Axle (8 tonnes)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Breite Width Limit (including
wing mirrors)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Höhe Height Limit (3.8 meters)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Länge Length Limit (10 meters)
Dangerous or hazardous cargos
Dangerous or Hazardous Load/Cargos
Verbot für kennzeichnungspflichtige Kraftfahrzeuge mit gefährlichen Gütern No Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos Permitted
Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos to Water Bodies
Verbot für Fahrzeuge mit wassergefährdender Ladung No Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos to Water Bodies Permitted
Buses, public transit & rail
Buses (generally) and trains (always) have the priority/right-of-way
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]
§§ 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 VzKat was issued in May 2017[2] under the General Administrative Rules for the Road Traffic Regulation (VwV-StVO) (
German: Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung).[3]
The Guidelines for Directional Signage outside of Motorways (RWB[4][5]) (
German: Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung außerhalb von Autobahnen)
The Guidelines for Directional Signage on
Motorways (RWBA[6][7]) (
German: Richtlinien für die wegweisende Beschilderung auf Autobahnen)
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]
Symbols
Symbols pursuant to § 39 paragraphs 7, 10, and 11 of the StVO:[1]
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.
Sign 101 Danger. A supplementary sign can specify the danger.
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.
Sign 201-50 / 201-52 Crossbuck. Yield the right-of-way to railborne vehicles
Sign 201-51 / 201-53 Crossbuck with lightning rod. Yield the right-of-way to railborne vehicles; the tracks possess
overhead electrical wires
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.
Official (base) Symbols in Germany as per Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO) § 39 Verkehrszeichen[14]
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
Verbot für Fahrzeuge aller Art No vehicles of any kind permitted
Verbot für Kraftwagen und sonstige mehrspurige Kraftfahrzeuge No 2-tracked motor vehicles permitted
Verbot für Fußgänger No pedestrians permitted
Bicycles & mopeds
Radfahrer Bicycles permitted
E-Bikes Electric Bicycles permitted
Mofas Mopeds
Mofas Mopeds permitted
Verbot für Mofas Mopeds forbidden
No Mopeds permitted
Motorcycles
Classified as above/below 500 cc motor size, and with or without sidecar
Krafträder, auch mit Beiwagen, Kleinkrafträder und Mofas Motorcycles (above 500 cc), also with sidecar, small motorcycles (below 500 cc) and mopeds
Motorcycles and Mopeds Permitted
Verbot für Krafträder, auch mit Beiwagen, Kleinkrafträder und Mofas Ban on motorcycles including those with sidecars and mopeds
Cars/automobiles
Personenkraftwagen – Pkw[19] – "Powered car for (the transport of) persons"; e.g., cars/automobiles
Personenkraftwagen (Pkw) Cars
Personenkraftwagen (Pkw) Cars permitted
Verbot für Personenkraftwagen (Pkw)
elektrisch betriebene Fahrzeuge Electric vehicles/cars
Pkw mit Anhänger Cars with trailer
Pkw mit Anhänger
Verbot für Pkw mit Anhänger
Recreational vehicles, farm equipment or animal powered
Wohnmobile Motorhomes & Campers
Kraftfahrzeuge und Züge Farm & Powered Equipment (& Trailers) with less than 25 km/h top speed
Verbot für Kraftfahrzeuge und Züge
Kraftfahrzeuge und Züge Farm & Powered Equipment (& Trailers) Permitted
Gespannfuhrwerke Horse-drawn Wagon
Verbot für Gespannfuhrwerke No Horse-drawn Wagons Permitted
Verbot für Viehtrieb No Cattle Permitted
Verbot für Reiter No Equestrians/Horse Riders Permitted
Trucks & lorries
Lastkraftwagen – Lkw – (literally "powered car for loads", e.g., truck, lorry, semi, tractor-trailer)
Lkw or Kfz
Lkw permitted
No Lkw permitted
Kraftfahrzeuge (Kfz)[20] 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
Lkw mit Anhänger Truck with trailer
Lkw with trailer permitted
Verbot für Lastkraftwagen (Lkw) mit Anhänger No trucks with trailer(s) permitted
Sattelkraftfahrzeuge Semi/tractor-trailer
Single- and double-trailer semis
Restrictions & allowances for vehicles (generally larger) than cars
Massenangabe Weight (7.5 tons)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Masse Total Vehicle Weight Limit (5.5 tonnes)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Achslast Load Limit per Axle (8 tonnes)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Breite Width Limit (including
wing mirrors)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Höhe Height Limit (3.8 meters)
Verbot für Fahrzeuge über angegebene tatsächliche Länge Length Limit (10 meters)
Dangerous or hazardous cargos
Dangerous or Hazardous Load/Cargos
Verbot für kennzeichnungspflichtige Kraftfahrzeuge mit gefährlichen Gütern No Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos Permitted
Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos to Water Bodies
Verbot für Fahrzeuge mit wassergefährdender Ladung No Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos to Water Bodies Permitted
Buses, public transit & rail
Buses (generally) and trains (always) have the priority/right-of-way