Traffic signs and their meaning

In short: Traffic signs regulate road traffic: warning signs (triangular, red border), regulatory signs (round) and informational signs (rectangular). Road markings and traffic lights supplement them.

In more detail: The order of precedence is: police instructions before traffic lights before traffic signs before rules such as “priority to the right”.

In detail

• Warning signs: Warn of danger spots, such as bends, wildlife, slippery roads.
• Regulatory signs: Mandatory and prohibitory, e.g. speed limit, no stopping.
• Informational signs: Give hints, such as priority road, car park, signposts.
• Priority signs: Triangle pointing down (give way) and stop sign (vorfahrtsregeln-und-rechts-vor-links).
• Speed limits: Built-up areas 50 km/h, outside 100 km/h, motorway recommended speed 130 km/h.
• Supplementary signs: Restrict signs, such as “Mon–Fri 7–18 h”.
• Road markings: Do not cross a solid line.
• Important: Learn the signs for the driving test (fuehrerschein-klassen).