Traffic sign

Traffic signs (short VZ ) are erected on the road in the form of signs or marked on the roadway symbols, fonts or lines that serve to influence or control of road traffic. They are part of the street furniture and be ordered by the authorities. Apart from the usual permanent signs, there are also variable message signs.

For the attention of traffic signs following rule is binding: Signs of police officers take precedence over all signs and other rules. Traffic signals have priority over traffic signs. But traffic signs have priority over general traffic rules. (Mnemonic: "Policeman in front of traffic lights, traffic lights ahead sign. " )

The traffic signs contributes largely easy to understand and self-explanatory pictograms, which alert the road users on a traffic law arrangement. The Traffic Signs is the sign-posting, which is used for target setting and guidance of road users.

Properties Germany

→ Main article: Road signs ( Germany )

On the road signs, the sans serif font Linear - Antiqua is used in accordance with DIN 1451-2. For details on the installation of traffic signs are the administrative regulation on the Highway Code (short VwV Highway Code ) refer to. There is arranged such that a maximum of three signs ( that's normally a maximum of two regulatory signs ) may be attached to a post. There are exceptions for characters for stationary traffic. Danger signs are basically alone. In addition, set up characters with waiting duty alone. Signs, the right of way rules (such as right of way or right of way grant ) Show must be recognizable to the shape of the shield next to their characters. Thus, the motorists can recognize the right of way at an intersection even when damaged or eingeschneitem shield.

According to road speed can be selected from three different size classes. Large signs shall be placed where traffic flows at high speed and little time to consider a shield. The signs of all sizes are forming retroreflective reasons of visibility at night or alternatively to light to the inside. The diameter of velocity plates is 42 cm, 60 cm or 75 cm.

A traffic sign caused by manufacturing and assembly, as of 2008, costs in the amount of 120 € up to 150 € per piece .. basically individuals may field no road signs; an exception is the assurance and labeling of construction sites, but this also requires the prior approval of the relevant road authority.

In Germany, there are currently 20 million traffic signs ( that would be - including motorways - every 28 m of a ) to come but still 3.5 million German signpost.

International standardization

At the international level there for many years, the desire to unify the traffic signs. This facilitates the cross-border traffic and improve road safety. In addition, include a variety of road signs pictograms to accelerate the perception and understanding by the sprachunkundigen road users.

In the Vienna Convention on Road Signs (8 November 1968) and the Additional Agreement to the Convention on road signs (1 May 1971), among others, the Federal Republic of Germany, Austria and the German Democratic Republic agreed in part to the standardization of road signs. For example, the round stop-sign, which was registered in the German road traffic regulations since October 13, 1938, superseded by the internationally used octagonal stop sign. In the GDR this step on May 26, 1977, completed.

More signage

In addition to official traffic signs, which are aimed at the normal road users, there are other signs on roads. These are for example:

• In ( West) Germany round, ocher-colored labels are used for military vehicles to identify the carrying capacity of bridges, indicating the Military Load Class ( MLC ).
• In Switzerland, there are special signs for snow plows that indicate the area in which snow can be dumped on the roadside. These indicate mainly the areas of transfer structures. This is to prevent that snow falls on the underlying pavement. A red tag indicates the beginning of the prohibitive zone, the green plate is lifting the ban on again. There are signs in two versions: one shows a stylized clearance vehicle with snow plow, the other shows only the snow plow and is therefore difficult to interpret.
• Many roads are equipped with kilometer markers, kilometer signs or stop signs. These are used to chainage of the road in order to allow for orientation or positioning, for example, in accident reports.
• In localities are shown with street signs street names. In some countries, these do not count as official traffic signs.
• Apart from the official Signpost traffic signs are available in many countries further signs, such as hiking trails and tourist destinations.
• Signage for public transport are indeed placed in public spaces, often on the roadside, but include in the actual sense not to traffic signs, as they are not directly addressed to the participants of the road traffic.

Station panel of a Bavarian street

Grazer street sign in the district Lend

Signs for trails

Smiley as signs of a permanent construction site

Subway sign in Vienna