Do you know these traffic signs? ADAC expert explains

In almost no country there are as many traffic signs as in Germany. According to estimates of the ADAC, 20 to 25 million traffic signs. Some signs are only known to a few and new ones are added again and again. For example, do you know what this sign means? It does not mean that only one car is allowed to park here in which four people fit.

The traffic sign refers to a parking space that is reserved for car sharing vehicles. It is mainly found in large cities. Or do you know this sign (with a black dot in a black circle)? It indicates the center of cities. Although it was introduced in 2007, according to an ADAC survey, only a quarter of drivers know what it means.

Many road users do not know the red dot with directional arrow. It marks a preceded large -scale redirection of needs. For example, drivers get from a motorway exit on the ideal path to the next driveway towards their destination.

The general German automotive club has been complaining about the sign forest in Germany for years. According to a pilot project of the ADAC, a third of all signs could easily be broken down – and are therefore superfluous.

But it is not just signs to be troubled by German drivers. The ADAC found massive knowledge gaps among drivers in a test 2022.

Katharina Luca from ADAC explains where the greatest deficits exist.

In our knowledge test from last year, we asked ADAC members, drivers, about 20 questions that also occur in the theory test, in the driver’s license test. And the result was actually rather mixed. So much did not actually get stuck with some questions. For example, fundamental things as the zipper process. Only a quarter of the respondents could answer properly.

There were further knowledge gaps in questions about the fine dust badge, calling in the car and driving physics. As expected, new driver’s licensees had a knowledge advantage. But what can drivers do if your own theory test has been for years ago and you want to refresh your knowledge?

Katharina Luca: So if you are unsure about the traffic signs, there are of course websites like on adac.de, where you can read the signs. If you now meet one in traffic that you do not know, then you can usually look up again at home, if you know what it looks like, and find out again. On many sides there are also these theoretical questions from the driver’s license tests, where you can test yourself a bit. Of course, there are also driving safety training, where these things are practiced again with the signs when you have the feeling as a driver, you don’t know exactly anymore.

If you know the basic rules of the signs, drivers can often derive meaning.

Katharina Luca: So there are a few characteristics where you can see some signs.

For example, danger signs, that are triangles with the tip up, white with a border, then you know that.

Then there are so -called prohibition signs, which are round, white with a red border, which is also relatively clear that it is a ban.

And then there are still bids that are round and blue.

And then there are guidelines that can actually look very different, be it detours, tourist highlights. There are such things, for example.

And then there are two signs in German road traffic that are actually unique and that you always have to recognize as a driver, even if you are snowing, for example.

This is the stop sign, which is octagonal, which is simply easy to see from its shape. And then the right of way to the right of way, that is triangular and is just upside down.