Road signs in Germany

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]

Symbols[edit]

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

• 
  Multi-track motor vehicles
• 
  Motor vehicles with a permissible mass above 3.5 t – including their trailer(s) – and tractor units, except passenger vehicles and buses
• 
  Cycle traffic
• 
  Cycle used for the transport of goods or persons – freight bicycle
• 
  Pedestrians
• 
  Equestrians
• 
  Cattle
• 
  Tram
• 
  Bus
• 
  Passenger vehicle
• 
  Passenger vehicles – or motorcycles with a sidecar – which are occupied by at least three persons – high-occupancy vehicle
• 
  Passenger vehicle with a trailer
• 
  Truck with a trailer
• 
  Campervan
• 
  Motor vehicles and vehicle combinations which cannot or may not drive faster than 25 km/h
• 
  Motorcycles – also with a sidecar – scooters, and motorized bicycles
• 
  Motorized bicycles
• 
  One-seated two-wheeled mopeds with an electric motor which automatically regulates its design speed to no more than 25 km/h – E-Bikes -
• 
  Small electric vehicles pursuant to the Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge-Verordnung (eKFV) (Small Electric Vehicle Act)
• 
  Drawn carriage
• 
  Electrically powered vehicle marked pursuant to the Vehicle Registration Regulation (FZV) (German: Fahrzeug-Zulassungsverordnung)
• 
  Carsharing vehicles

Danger signs[edit]

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.
• 
  Sign 101-10 / 101-20
  Aircraft
  
• 
  Sign 101-11
  Pedestrian crosswalk
• 
  Sign 101-21
  Pedestrian crosswalk
• 
  Sign 101-12 / 101-22
  Cattle
• 
  Sign 101-13 / 101-23
  Equestrians
• 
  Sign 101-14 / 101-24
  Amphibians
• 
  Sign 101-15
  Rockfall
• 
  Sign 101-25
  Rockfall
• 
  Sign 101-51
  Slipperiness due to snow or ice
• 
  Sign 101-52
  Grit/gravel at the edge of the road
• 
  Sign 101-53
  Shore or riverbank
• 
  Sign 101-54
  Insufficient clearance
• 
  Sign 101-55
  Movable bridge
• 
  Sign 102
  Intersection with priority to the right
• 
  Sign 103-10
  Curve (left)
• 
  Sign 103-20
  Curve (right)
• 
  Sign 105-10
  Double curve (first left)
• 
  Sign 105-20
  Double curve (first right)
• 
  Sign 108-10
  Descent
• 
  Sign 110-12
  Ascent
• 
  Sign 112
  Uneven road
• 
  Sign 114
  Slipperiness when road is wet or dirty
• 
  Sign 117-10
  Crosswind
• 
  Sign 117-20
  Crosswind
• 
  Sign 120
  Road narrowing
• 
  Sign 121-10
  One-sided road narrowing (right)
• 
  Sign 121-20
  One-sided road narrowing (left)
• 
  Sign 123
  Roadworks
• 
  Sign 124
  Traffic jams
• 
  Sign 125
  Oncoming traffic
• 
  Sign 131
  Traffic signals
• 
  Sign 133-10 / 133-20
  Pedestrians
• 
  Sign 136-10 / 136-20
  Children
• 
  Sign 138-10 / 138-20
  Cycles
• 
  Sign 142-10
  Wild animals
• 
  Sign 142-20
  Wild animals
• 
  Sign 151
  Railroad crossing
• 
  Sign 156-10 / 156-20
  Railroad crossing with three-striped warning – 240 m distance
• 
  Sign 156-11 / 156-21
  Railroad crossing with three-striped warning – custom distance
• 
  Sign 157-10 / 157-20
  Three-striped warning for railroad crossing – 240 m distance
• 
  Sign 157-11 / 157-21
  Three-striped warning for railroad crossing – custom distance
• 
  Sign 159-10 / 159-20
  Two-striped warning for railroad crossing – 160 m distance
• 
  Sign 159-11 / 159-21
  Two-striped warning for railroad crossing – custom distance
• 
  Sign 162-10 / 162-20
  One-striped warning for railroad crossing – 80 m distance
• 
  Sign 162-11 / 162-21
  One-striped warning for railroad crossing – custom distance

Regulatory signs[edit]

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
• 
  Sign 205
  Yield the right-of-way
• 
  Sign 206
  Stop. Yield the right-of-way.
• 
  Sign 208
  Oncoming traffic has the right-of-way
• 
  Sign 209
  Right ahead
• 
  Sign 209-10
  Left ahead
• 
  Sign 209-30
  Straight ahead
• 
  Sign 211
  Right here
• 
  Sign 211-10
  Left here
• 
  Sign 214
  Straight ahead or right ahead
• 
  Sign 214-10
  Straight ahead or left ahead
• 
  Sign 214-30
  Left ahead or right ahead
• 
  Sign 215
  Roundabout
• 
  Sign 220-10
  One-way street
• 
  Sign 220-20
  One-way street
• 
  Sign 222
  Pass on the right
• 
  Sign 222-10
  Pass on the left
• 
  Sign 223.1-50 – 223.1-52
  Drive on the shoulder
• 
  Sign 223.2-50 – 223.2-52
  No longer drive on the shoulder
• 
  Sign 223.3-50 – 223.3-52
  Vacate the shoulder
• 
  Sign 224
  Bus stop or tram stop
• 
  Sign 224-51
  Bus stop for school buses during designated times
• 
  Sign 229 – 229-31
  Taxi stand
• 
  Sign 237
  Bicycle path
• 
  Sign 238
  Equestrian path
• 
  Sign 239
  Sidewalk
• 
  Sign 240
  Combined pedestrian and bicycle path
• 
  Sign 241-30
  Separated pedestrian and bicycle path
• 
  Sign 241-31
  Separated pedestrian and bicycle path
• 
  Sign 242.1
  Begin of a pedestrian zone
• 
  Sign 242.2
  End of a pedestrian zone
• 
  Sign 244.1
  Begin of a bicycle street
• 
  Sign 244.2
  End of a bicycle street
• 
  Sign 244.3
  Begin of a bicycle zone
• 
  Sign 244.4
  End of a bicycle zone
• 
  Sign 245
  Bus lane
• 
  Sign 250
  No vehicles of any kind permitted
• 
  Sign 251
  
• 
  Sign 253
  
• 
  Sign 254
  
• 
  Sign 255
  
• 
  Sign 257-50
  
• 
  Sign 257-51
  
• 
  Sign 257-52
  
• 
  Sign 257-53
  
• 
  Sign 257-54
  
• 
  Sign 257-55
  
• 
  Sign 257-56
  
• 
  Sign 257-57
  
• 
  Sign 257-58
  
• 
  Sign 259
  
• 
  Sign 260
  
• 
  Sign 261
  
• 
  Sign 263–5,5
  
• 
  Sign 263-8
  
• 
  Sign 264-2
  
• 
  Sign 265–3,8
  
• 
  Sign 266-10
  
• 
  Sign 267
  
• 
  Sign 268
  
• 
  Sign 269
  
• 
  Sign 270.1
  
• 
  Sign 270.2
  
• 
  Sign 272
  
• 
  Sign 273
  
• 
  Sign 274-60
  
• 
  Sign 274.1
  
• 
  Sign 274.2
  
• 
  Sign 275-30
  
• 
  Sign 276
  
• 
  Sign 277
  
• 
  Sign 277.1
  
• 
  Sign 278-60
  
• 
  Sign 279-30
  
• 
  Sign 280
  
• 
  Sign 281
  
• 
  Sign 281.1
  
• 
  Sign 282
  
• 
  Sign 283
  
• 
  Sign 283-10
  
• 
  Sign 283-11
  
• 
  Sign 283-20
  
• 
  Sign 283-21
  
• 
  Sign 283-30
  
• 
  Sign 283-31
  
• 
  Sign 286
  
• 
  Sign 286-10
  
• 
  Sign 286-11
  
• 
  Sign 286-20
  
• 
  Sign 286-21
  
• 
  Sign 286-30
  
• 
  Sign 286-31
  
• 
  Sign 290.1
  
• 
  Sign 290.2
  
• 
  Sign 293
  
• 
  Sign 294
  
• 
  Sign 295
  
• 
  Sign 296
  
• 
  Sign 297
  
• 
  Sign 297.1
  
• 
  Sign 297.1-21
  
• 
  Sign 298
  
• 
  Sign 299 - No parking or waiting area
  

[edit]

Directional signs[edit]

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.

• 
  Sign 301
  
• 
  Sign 306
  
• 
  Sign 307
  
• 
  Sign 308
  
• 
  Sign 310
  
• 
  Sign 311
  
• 
  Sign 314
  
• 
  Sign 314-10
  
• 
  Sign 314-20
  
• 
  Sign 314-30
  
• 
  Sign 314-50
  
• 
  Sign 314.1
  
• 
  Sign 314.2
  
• 
  Sign 315-50
  
• 
  Sign 315-55
  
• 
  Sign 315-60
  
• 
  Sign 315-65
  
• 
  Sign 315-70
  
• 
  Sign 315-75
  
• 
  Sign 315-80
  
• 
  Sign 315-85
  
• 
  Sign 316
  Park and ride
• 
  Sign 316-50
  Park and ride
• 
  Sign 317
  Parking for hikers
• 
  Sign 318
  
• 
  Sign 325.1
  
• 
  Sign 325.2
  
• 
  Sign 327
  
• 
  Sign 327-50
  
• 
  Sign 327-51
  
• 
  Sign 328
  
• 
  Sign 330.1Autobahn Start
  
• 
  Sign 330.2Autobahn End
  
• 
  Sign 331.1
  
• 
  Sign 331.2
  
• 
  Sign 332
  
• 
  Sign 332.1
  
• 
  Sign 332.1-20
  
• 
  Sign 333
  
• 
  Sign 333.1
  
• 
  Sign 333.1-20
  
• 
  Sign 340
  
• 
  Sign 341
  
• 
  Sign 342
  
• 
  Sign 350-10
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Sign 350-20
  Pedestrian crossing
• 
  Sign 350.1
  
• 
  Sign 350.2
  
• 
  Sign 354
  Water protection zone
• 
  Sign 356
  Pedestrian crossing patrol
• 
  Sign 357
  No through road
• 
  Sign 357-50
  
• 
  Sign 357-51
  
• 
  Sign 357-52
  
• 
  Sign 358
  First aid or hospital
• 
  Sign 363
  Police station
• 
  Sign 365-50
  Telephone
• 
  Sign 365-51
  Emergency telephone
• 
  Sign 365-52
  Petrol station
• 
  Sign 365-53
  Petrol station with LPG
• 
  Sign 365-54
  Petrol station with CNG
• 
  Sign 365-55
  Motorway hotel
• 
  Sign 376
  Motorway restaurant
• 
  Sign 377
  Motorway refreshments
• 
  Sign 378
  Lavatory
• 
  Sign 365-59
  Road church
• 
  Sign 365-60
  Camping and caravan site
• 
  Sign 365-61
  Information
• 
  Sign 365-62
  Repairs
• 
  Sign 365-63
  Pedestrian underpass
• 
  Sign 365-64
  Pedestrian overpass
• 
  Sign 365-65
  Charging station for electric vehicles
• 
  Sign 365-66
  Hydrogen Station
• 
  Sign 365-67
  Motor caravan campsite
• 
  Sign 365-68
  Campersite
• 
  Sign 385
  old number since 2017: 385-50
• 
  Sign 386.1
• 
  Sign 386.1-10
• 
  Sign 386.1-11
  new design 2017
• 
  Sign 386.1-12
• 
  Sign 386.1-20
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.1-21
  new design 2017
• 
  Sign 386.1-22
• 
  Sign 386.1-30
• 
  Sign 386.1-50
  old number since 2017: 386.1-32
• 
  Sign 386.1-51
  old number since 2017: 386.1-33
• 
  Sign 386.1-52
  old number since 2017: 386.1-34
• 
  Sign 386.1-53
  old number since 2017: 386.1-50
• 
  Sign 386.2
• 
  Sign 386.2-10
  new design 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-11
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-12
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-22
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-20
  new design 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-21
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-30
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-51
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.2-52
  old number since 2017: 386.2-30
• 
  Sign 386.2-53
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 386.3
• 
  Sign 386.3-50
• 
  Sign 390
• 
  Sign 390.2
• 
  Sign 391
• 
  Sign 392
• 
  Sign 393
• 
  Sign 394-50
• 
  Sign 401
• 
  Sign 405
• 
  Sign 406-50
• 
  Sign 406-51
• 
  Sign 410
• 
  Sign 415-10
• 
  Sign 415-20
• 
  Sign 415-10
• 
  Sign 415-20
• 
  Sign 418-10
• 
  Sign 418-20
• 
  Sign 419-10
• 
  Sign 419-20
• 
  Sign 421-20
• 
  Sign 422-10
• 
  Sign 422-11
• 
  Sign 422-20
• 
  Sign 422-21
• 
  Sign 422-30
• 
  Sign 422-32
• 
  Sign 422-34
• 
  Sign 422-36
• 
  Sign 430-10
• 
  Sign 430-20
• 
  Sign 432-10
• 
  Sign 432-20
• 
  Sign 434
• 
  Sign 434-52
• 
  Sign 434-53
• 
  Sign 437
• 
  Sign 438
• 
  Sign 439
• 
  Sign 440
• 
  Sign 441
• 
  Sign 442-10
  old number since 2017: 442-11
• 
  Sign 442-12
  old number since 2017: 442-13
• 
  Sign 442-13
  old number since 2017: 442-10
• 
  Sign 442-20
  old number since 2017: 442-21
• 
  Sign 442-22
  old number since 2017: 442-23
• 
  Sign 442-23
  old number since 2017: 442-20
• 
  Sign 442-50
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 442-51
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 442-52
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 442-53
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 448
• 
  Sign 448-50
• 
  Sign 448.1
• 
  Sign 449
• 
  Sign 450-50
• 
  Sign 450-51
• 
  Sign 450-52
• 
  Sign 450-53
• 
  Sign 450-54
• 
  Sign 450-55
• 
  Sign 453
• 
  Sign 453-50
• 
  Sign 454-10
• 
  Sign 454-20
• 
  Sign 455.1-10
• 
  Sign 455.1-11
• 
  Sign 455.1-12
• 
  Sign 455.1-20
• 
  Sign 455.1-21
• 
  Sign 455.1-22
• 
  Sign 455.1-30
• 
  Sign 455.1-50
• 
  Sign 455.2
• 
  Sign 457.1
• 
  Sign 457.2
• 
  Sign 458
• 
  Sign 460-10
• 
  Sign 460-11
• 
  Sign 460-12
• 
  Sign 460-20
• 
  Sign 460-21
• 
  Sign 460-22
• 
  Sign 460-30
• 
  Sign 460-50
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 466
• 
  Sign 467.1-10
• 
  Sign 467.1-20
• 
  Sign 467.1-30
• 
  Sign 467.2
• 
  Sign 500
• 
  Sign 501-10
• 
  Sign 501-11
• 
  Sign 501-12
• 
  Sign 501-15
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 501-16
  old number since 2017: 501-15
• 
  Sign 501-17
  old number since 2017: 501-16
• 
  Sign 501-18
  old number since 2017: 501-17
• 
  Sign 501-20
• 
  Sign 501-21
• 
  Sign 501-22
• 
  Sign 505-11
  old number since 2017: 505-12
• 
  Sign 505-12
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 505-21
  old number since 2017: 505-22
• 
  Sign 505-22
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 511-11
• 
  Sign 511-12
• 
  Sign 511-20
• 
  Sign 511-21
• 
  Sign 511-22
• 
  Sign 513-10
• 
  Sign 513-11
• 
  Sign 513-20
• 
  Sign 513-21
• 
  Sign 514-10
• 
  Sign 514-20
• 
  Sign 515-11
  old number since 2017: 515-12
• 
  Sign 515-12
  old number since 2017: 515-13
• 
  Sign 515-21
  old number since 2017: 515-22
• 
  Sign 515-22
  old number since 2017: 515-23
• 
  Sign 521-30
• 
  Sign 521-31
• 
  Sign 521-32
• 
  Sign 521-33
• 
  Sign 522-30
• 
  Sign 522-31
• 
  Sign 522-32
• 
  Sign 522-33
• 
  Sign 522-34
• 
  Sign 522-35
• 
  Sign 522-36
• 
  Sign 522-37
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 522-38
  new sign 2017
• 
  Sign 531-10
• 
  Sign 532-10
• 
  Sign 535-11
• 
  Sign 536-20
• 
  Sign 541-10
• 
  Sign 542-10
• 
  Sign 545-11
• 
  Sign 546-10
• 
  Sign 551-20
• 
  Sign 551-21
• 
  Sign 551-22
• 
  Sign 590-10
• 
  Sign 590-11

Road equipment[edit]

• 
  Sign 600-30
• 
  Sign 605-10
• 
  Sign 605-11
• 
  Sign 605-13
• 
  Sign 605-14
• 
  Sign 605-23
• 
  Sign 605-24