These road signs are used in Germany.
General Danger or Traffic Control
Gefahrstelle – Danger Point (a supplementary sign may explain the danger)
Traffic signals – Primary Priority
Stop and give way
Right on red Only after a complete stop
Fusgangeruberweg / Zebrastreifen – Zebra crossing
Fusganger – Pedestrian crossing
Kinder – Children crossing
Radverkehr/Fahrrad – Bicycle lane
Roadworks
Bahnubergang
You Must Yield to All Rail Traffic or Rail Signals, No Overtaking Allowed within Zone
Bahnubergang – Level crossing (i.e., Train/Rail) Crossing Ahead
Bahnubergang & Level Crossing Distance Marker (80m per strip)
Level Crossing (240Â m) Ahead Marker (Right Side)
Level Crossing (160Â m) Ahead Marker (Left Side)
Level Crossing (80Â m) Ahead Marker (Right Side)
“St. Andrews Cross” – Yield to All Rail Traffic or Rail Signals
St. Andrews Cross with overhead wire hazard
“Andreaskreuz” – Yield to All Rail Traffic or Signals
Give priority to rail transport (with danger of electrical wires overhead)
Reisverschlussverfahren – “Zipper Rule” for 1-Way Traffic Merging & 2-Way Traffic Priorities
einseitig (links) verengte Fahrbahn – Road narrows on the left, 1-Way Zipper Rule Applies, 2-Way Oncoming Traffic Yields to You)
Verengte Fahrbahn – Narrow Roadway Ahead, 1-Way Zipper Rule Applies
einseitig (rechts) verengte Fahrbahn – Road narrows on the right, 1-Way Zipper Rule Applies, 2-Way Yield to Oncoming Traffic
Two way traffic ahead (Red indicates who must yield)
Oncoming Traffic, Red direction must yield
Vorrang vor dem Gegenverkehr – Priority over oncoming vehicles
Yield as necessary to not endanger yourself or other road users
Steinschlag – Possible Rockfall in Road (No braking, slowing, stopping or parking)
Schnee- oder Eisglatte – Snow or Ice possible ahead (road freezes easily, no sudden braking or turning)
Splitt, Schotter – Loose chippings
Unebene Fahrbahn – Uneven surfaces ahead, bumpy road
Schleuder- oder Rutschgefahr – Slippery road (water, ice, snow, oil or dirt)
Priority Travel Does Not Yield, Signal All Turns
Vorfahrtstrase – Priority Road
Course of this priority road turns left
Road from left and ahead has priority
Ende der Vorfahrtsstrase – End of Priority Road
Vorfahrt – Priority to through-traffic at the next intersection/crossroads only
Kreuzung o. Einmundung mit Vorfahrt von rechts – Uncontrolled Intersection Ahead Proceed with extreme caution, priority is not assigned
Yield to cross traffic
Yield or Reduce Speed as Necessary
Stau/Verkehrstau – Traffic jams/queues possible
Kurve – Dangerous curve to the left (Slow & stay to the right)
Kurve – Dangerous curve to the right (Slow & stay to the right)
Doppelkurve – Double curves, first to left (Slow & stay to the right)
Doppelkurve – Double curves, first to right (Slow & stay to the right)
Gefalle – Steep Grade/Hill Down (10%)
Steigung – Steep Grade/Hill Up (12%)
Flugbetrieb – Low-flying aircraft, Aircraft noise & lights may distract drivers
Seitenwind – Crosswinds from the right possible
Seitenwind – Crosswind from the left possible
Ufer – Roadway intersects river bank
Unzureichendes Lichtraumprofil – Narrowed clearance by trees
Bewegliche Brucke – Opening or swing bridge ahead
Viehtrieb – Cattle possible
Reiter – Equestrians possible
Amphibienwanderung – Frogs & Toads possible
Wildwechsel – Wild animals possible
Official (base) Symbols in Germany as per Strasenverkehrs-Ordnung (StVO)
§ 39 Verkehrszeichen
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 verboten but also trucks too.
A Red Ring is also a traffic sign itself… No Vehicles (of any type) Permitted, Pushing Motorcycles/Mopeds/Bicycles Permitted
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge aller Art No vehicles of any kind permitted
Verbot fur Kraftwagen und sonstige mehrspurige Kraftfahrzeuge – No 2-tracked Motor Vehicles permitted
Verbot fur Fusganger – No Pedestrians Permitted
Radfahrer – Bicycles Permitted
E-Bikes – Electric Bicycles Permitted
Mofas – Mopeds Permitted
Mofas Permitted
Verbot fur Mofas
No Mopeds Permitted
Classified as above/below 500 cc motor size, and with or without sidecar
Kraftrader, auch mit Beiwagen, Kleinkraftrader und Mopeds – Motorcycles (above 500cc), also with sidecar, small motorcycles (below 500cc) and mopeds
Motorcycles and Mopeds Permitted
Verbot fur Kraftrader, auch mit Beiwagen, Kleinkraftrader und Mofas
Personenkraftwagen – Pkw – “Powered Car for (the transport of) Persons”; e.g., cars/automobiles
Personenkraftwagen (Pkw) – Cars
Personenkraftwagen (Pkw) Permitted
Verbot fur Personenkraftwagen/Pkw
elektrisch betriebene Fahrzeuge – Electric Vehicles/Cars
Pkw mit Anhanger – Cars with Trailer
Pkw mit Anhanger
Verbot fur Pkw mit Anhanger
Wohnmobile – Motorhomes & Campers
Kraftfahrzeuge und Zuge – Farm & Powered Equipment (& Trailers) with less than 25 km/h top speed
Verbot fur Kraftfahrzeuge und Zuge
Kraftfahrzeuge und Zuge Permitted
Gespannfuhrwerke – Horse-drawn Wagon
Verbot fur Gespannfuhrwerke – No Horse-drawn Wagons Permitted
Verbot fur Viehtrieb – No Cattle Permitted
Verbot fur Reiter – No Equestrians/Horse Riders Permitted
Lastkraftwagen – Lkw – “Powered Car for Loads”, e.g., truck, lorry, semi, tractor-trailer
Lkw or Kfz
Lkw Permitted
No Lkw Permitted
Kraftfahrzeuge (Kfz) mit einer zulassigen Gesamtmasse uber 3,5 t, einschlieslich ihrer Anhanger, 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 Anhanger – Truck with trailer
Lkw with trailer permitted
Verbot fur Lastkraftwagen (Lkw) mit Anhanger – No trucks with trailer(s) permitted
Sattelkraftfahrzeuge – Semi/Tractor-Trailer
Single & Double Trailer Semis
Massenangabe – Weight (7.5 tons)
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge uber angegebene tatsachliche Masse – Total Vehicle Weight Limit (5.5 tonnes)
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge uber angegebene tatsachliche Achslast – Load Limit per Axle (8 tonnes)
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge uber angegebene tatsachliche Breite – Width Limit (including wing mirrors)
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge uber angegebene tatsachliche Hohe – Height Limit (3.8 meters)
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge uber angegebene tatsachliche Lange – Length Limit (10 meters)
Dangerous or Hazardous Load/Cargos
Verbot fur kennzeichnungspflichtige Kraftfahrzeuge mit gefahrlichen Gutern – No Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos Permitted
Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos to Water Bodies
Verbot fur Fahrzeuge mit wassergefahrdender Ladung – No Dangerous or Hazardous Loads/Cargos to Water Bodies Permitted
Buses (generally) and trains (always) have the priority/right of way
Kraftomnibus – Bus
Buses permitted
Verbot fur Kraftomnibusse
Strasenbahn – Streetrail or Trams
Trams Permitted
Train – Bahn/Zug
Schienenbahn – “Railway Traffic”, Trains – Bahn/Zug Permitted
Military vehicles (generally a weight rating)
Lkw, Busses & Pkw with Trailers
Basic Traffic Controls
Verbot der Einfahrt – Do Not Enter
Verbot des Wendens – No U-turns
Speed Controls & Limits
Vorgeschriebene Mindestgeschwindigkeit – Minimum (30Â km/h) Speed Required
Ende der … – End of …
Beginn einer Tempo 30-Zone – Maximum (30Â km/h) Zone (still in effect after junctions)
End of …
Zulassige Hochstgeschwindigkeit – Maximum Speed (60Â km/h)
Ende der … – End of …
Maximum (or recommended) Speeds in Germany for Developed/Urban Areas (50), Bundesstrasen (100) & Autobahn (130)
Passing & Overtaking
Uberholverbot fur Kraftfahrzeuge aller Art – No Passing (for any vehicle type)
End of …
No Passing (by vehicles over 3,5 t)
End of …
Other
Umwelt – Low-emission zone / Environmental Zone
End of a low-emission zone
Lkw / Trucks / Semis must maintain minimum (70 m) spacing
Schneeketten sind vorgeschrieben – Snow chains must be carried in vehicle
German Limited Access Highway – Blue Background
Nummernschild fur Autobahnen – Autobahn – (limited access highway) route number (48)
Knotenpunkte der Autobahnen – Interchange/Exit/Ausfahrt Number (26)
Pfeilwegweiser zur Autobahn – Direction towards Autobahn entrance
Direction Signs to Autobahn, Messe (Fair/Convention Center) & Bundesstrase
Direction Signs to Autobahn, Messe (Fair/Convention Center) & Bundesstrase (without number)
Vorwegweiser zur Autobahn – Autobahn junction sign
Autobahn junction sign
Autobahn distance to next exit
Autobahn junction sign to service area
Autobahn junction sign
Autobahn marker (300m before exit)
Autobahn marker (200m before exit)
Autobahn marker (100m before exit)
Autobahn distance sign
Autobahn Detour
Autobahn Detour ahead
Detouring onto opposite lane (in 200Â m)
End of lane
Tunnel
Breakdown bay
Autobahn (Motor vehicles capable of speeds exceeding 60Â km/h only)
End of Autobahn
Kraftfahrstrase – Fast traffic highway (Motor vehicles capable of speeds exceeding 60Â km/h only)
End of fast traffic highway
Autobahn exit ahead
Autobahn Ausfahrt – exit
Bundesstrase – Country road (non-isolated highway) route number (35)
Ausfahrt auf Bundesstrase – Exit off Main Road (to Mainz/Wiesbaden)
Ausfahrt – Exit
Signpost at junction leading onto a main road
Signpost at junction leading onto a minor road
Signpost at junction
Sign on approaches to junctions
Sign on approaches to junctions
Sign on approaches to junctions (lanes)
Route for Lkw/Kfz
Route for Lkw/Kfz
Lkw/Kfz geradeaus – Go Straight Ahead
Lkw/Kfz abbiegen rects – Turn Right Ahead
Lkw/Kfz abbiegen links – Turn Left Ahead
Hazardous Cargos – Go Straight Ahead
Hazardous Cargos – Go Right Ahead
Hazardous Cargos – Go Left Ahead
Radverkehr – Bicycles Go Straight Ahead
Radverkehr – Bicycles Turn Right Ahead
Radverkehr – Bicycles Turn Left Ahead
Detour signpost
Detour sign (U3)
Umleitung – Detour sign
End of Detour
Planskizze – Layout of Detour route
Umlenkungspfeil (Streckenempfehlung) – Existing alternate Autobahn route
End of detour (symbol)
Complicated traffic touring (if turning left is forbidden)
European road number sign (E 36)
Strasenname – Street name sign
Direction to Bahnhof – Trainstation/ Railway Station
Start Urban Area (50Â km/h speed limit)
Town sign: End of Urban Area
Traffic Calming Zone
End of Traffic Calming Zone
Pedestrian crossing patrol
Sidewalk parking for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight up to 2.8 metric tons
Parking disc
Fusgangeruberweg – Pedestrian crossing
Fusgangeruberweg – Pedestrian crossing
No through road
Erstehilfe oder Krankenhaus – First aid or hospital
Street light warning marker (lamp will not remain lit all night)
Priority Travel Does Not Yield, Signal All Turns
Vorfahrtstrase – Priority Road starts
Vorfahrtstrase – Priority Road ends
Vorfahrt – Priority at the next intersection/crossroads only
Uncontrolled Intersection Ahead – Proceed with extreme caution, priority is not assigned
Yield to cross-wise traffic
Roadway lanes delineated by lines for/of single vehicle width
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, Geradeaus – You must go straight ahead, yield appropriately
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, hier rechts – Turn right here (in front of the sign)
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, hier links – Turn left here (in front of the sign)
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, rechts – You must turn right ahead, yield appropriately
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, links – You must turn left ahead, yield appropriately
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, Geradeaus oder rechts – You must go straight or turn right
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, Geradeaus oder links – You must go straight or turn left
Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung, Rechts oder links – You must turn right or turn left
Kreisverkehr – Roundabout (Yield to traffic in circle, signal only on exit)
Einbahnstrase – One-way street
Einbahnstrase – One-way street
Vorgeschriebene Vorbeifahrt, Rechts vorbei – Keep right of traffic barrier/divider
Vorgeschriebene Vorbeifahrt, Links vorbei -Keep left of traffic barrier/divider
Use of hard shoulder as driving lane permitted
No use of hard shoulder as driving lane permitted
3 Fahrstreifen und 1 Seitenstreifen’ – 3 Driving Lanes + 1 Hard Shoulder (use permitted)
3 Fahrstreifen und 1 Seitenstreifen’ – 3 Driving Lanes + 1 Hard Shoulder (use not permitted)
Fuswege – Footway / Pedestrian lane
Gemeinsamer Fus- und Radweg – Shared use path
Getrennter Rad- und Gehweg – Shared, but separated bicycle & pedestrian path
Radweg – Bicycle lane
Bussonderfahrstreifen – Bus lane
Sonderweg Reiter – Bridleway
Beginn einer Fusgangerzone – Pedestrian zone
Ende einer …. – End of pedestrian zone
Beginn der Fahrradstrase – Bicyclist zone
End of bicyclist zone
Parking is considered anything over 3 minutes
Absolutely no stopping or waiting on traffic lanes – Emergency Excepted
Haltverbot – Absolutely No Stopping (on traffic lanes)
Continuation of Absolutes Haltverbot – Top arrow only (start of zone), Bottom arrow only (end of zone)
No waiting/standing longer than 3 minutes on traffic lanes – “Loading/Unloading & Pick-up/Drop-off Zone”
Eingeschranktes Halteverbot – No parking. Waiting is allowed.
Eingeschranktes Halteverbot (Anfang) – Start of Waiting Only Zone (left side)
Eingeschranktes Halteverbot (Anfang) – Start of Waiting Only Zone (right side)
Eingeschranktes Halteverbot (Ende) – End of Waiting Only Zone (right side)
Continuation of Eingeschranktes Halteverbot
No parking zone
End of no parking zone
Bus Stop & Taxi Zones
Bus or tram stop: 15 m parking Prohibition prior to and behind this sign = 30 m altogether
School bus stop: 15 m parking Prohibition prior to and behind this sign = 30 m altogether
Taxi rank (no stopping or parking allowed)
End of previous limitation (i.e., speed or passing)
Intersections & Crosswalks
Haltlinie – Stop line
Fusgangeruberweg – Pedestrian crossing
Wartelinie – Yield line
Driving Lanes
Fahrstreifenbegrenzung und Fahrbahnbegrenzung – Solid Travel Lane (middle) & Travel Lane Boundary (right) – Crossing Not Permitted
Leitlinie – Guide (Dividing) Line – Crossing/Overtaking Permitted
Einseitige Fahrstreifenbegrenzung – Traffic on Solid Side May Not Cross Line. Traffic on Divided Side May Cross Line.
Direction arrows (no stopping or parking allowed)
Advance notice arrow
Advance notice arrow to indicate a lane end
Sperrflachen – Occupying this area not permitted
Grenzmarkierung fur Halt- und Parkverbote – No Parking or Waiting Area
Parking place
Parkplatz (Anfang) – Parking place (start)
Parking place (end)
Beginn einer Parkraumbewirtschaftungszone – Start of Parking management area, only parking with parking disc or parking ticket
End of Parking management area
Car park, parking garage
Wasserschutzgebiet – Water protection zone
Place name (information only, does not imply a speed limit)
Tourist attraction
Tourist route
Tourist route
Tourist sign (here: river or channel)
Tourist route
Tourist route
Tourist route
Tourist sign (here: referring to the former East-West German border)
Toll road for heavy lorries
End of toll road for heavy lorries
Toll road
Stop – customs
Park and Ride
Park and ride
Parking for hikers
Police station
Telephone
Emergency telephone
Petrol station
Petrol station with LPG
Petrol station with CNG
Motorway hotel
Motorway chapel
Information
Repairs
Pedestrian underpass
Pedestrian overpass
Charging station for electric vehicles
Hydrogen Station
Motor caravan campsite
Campsite
Motorway restaurant
Motorway refreshments
Lavatory
Arrows
To the left
To the right
After the left turn, a hazard exists (another sign defining the hazard would be above)
After the right turn, a hazard exists (another sign defining the hazard would be above)
Fusganger Gehweg gegenuber benutzen – Use Sidewalk on left side of roadway
Fusganger Gehweg gegenuber benutzen – Use Sidewalk on right side of roadway
Directional indications by arrows, detour signs, three-quarter circle
both directions, two opposing horizontal arrows
both directions, two opposite vertical arrows
Two-way cycle route crossing road
cycling in the opposite direction
Directional indications by arrows, detour signs, semicircle
2Â km ahead
Stop 100 m ahead
Zipper method in … m
For 800Â m
For 3Â km
continues for … m
continues for … km
100 m ahead
200 m ahead
400 m ahead
600 m ahead
Late merge in 200m
Ends in …m
Hazardous Sidewinds for cars with caravans/trailers
Risk of accident
Migratory toad crossing
Oil slick
Smoke
Loose chippings
Construction site exit
Damaged roadway
Spillage on road
Exit
Accident
Knoll
Police check
Fog
Driveway
Right of way changed
Traffic routing changed
Industrial area (trains have priority)
Port area rail traffic has priority)
Children allowed to play in road
Skiers allowed to cross road
Large wagons can park here without the usual two week temporal parking restriction
Caravans can park here without the usual two week temporal parking restriction
Information about motorail for lorries
End of restriction
Cyclists dismount
Green wave at …km/h
Stop here on red
Pass over verges/shoulder
End of passing over verges/shoulder
Tunnel category B
Tunnel category C
Tunnel category D
Tunnel category E
Disabled with permit No. … allowed
Bicycle and residents allowed
Residents only
Residents or Resident’s Visitors Parking Only
Residents with permit No. … allowed
Taxis allowed
Regular scheduled buses allowed
Emergency vehicles allowed
Ambulances allowed
Delivery vehicles allowed
Agricultural vehicles allowed
Forestry vehicles allowed
Agricultural and forestry vehicles allowed
Operational and utility vehicles allowed
Electric vehicles while charging allowed
Electric vehicles allowed
Construction vehicles allowed
Access to construction site allowed
Access to neighbouring construction site allowed
Access to … allowed
Ferry users allowed
Vehicles with red, yellow or green Low Emission Zone Sticker permitted
Vehicles with yellow or green Low Emission Zone Sticker permitted
Vehicles with green Low Emission Zone Sticker permitted
Skiers crossing road at times shown
At times shown
At times shown
Parking with disc for 2 hours
Parking with disc in marked zone for 2 hours
Working days
Working days at times shown
Working days at times shown
Monday-Friday, at times shown
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at times shown
Sundays and public holidays, at times shown
School bus (at times shown)
Parking allowed at weekends
Disabled users only
Disabled with permit No. … only
Residents with permit No. … only
Slow vehicles allowed to pass
Taxi stand
Number of taxis
Electric vehicles being charged (with number)
Electric vehicles (with number)
Parking allowed in marked areas
Only with parking ticket
Toll ticket
On the verges/shoulder
When wet
Mode of transport
Weight (12 tons)
Park (pull in straight)
Park (pull in diagonally)
Only within marked parking areas
For cyclists and moped riders
Grit on road
No parking on verges/shoulder
Also buses and cars with trailers
Rabies! Endangered area.
Wild animal rabies! Endangered area.
Barrier board
Guiding beacon
guide cone
moveable road barrier
moveable road barrier with flashing arrow
reflexion post (right-hand side)
reflexion post (left-hand side)
Obsolete signs since 2017
Buses crossing
Two-way cycle route running parallel to road
Risk of ice
Start of restriction
Mopeds allowed
Vehicles exempt from the traffic ban at an increased pollutant concentration
Obsolete signs since 2013
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead
Level crossing with barrier or gate ahead
One-way traffic
Recommended speed
End of recommended speed
Soft verges
Soft verges