ANSWER: 1-2-3.
REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way.
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Brian's Guide to Getting Around Germany |
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From 15 July to 14 December, the main rail line between Frankfurt and Mannheim will be closed for reconstruction. This will result in numerous service changes and likely delays. More details (in German) here. |
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This page last updated July 6, 2024 |
So you wanna see if you've mastered the German traffic laws and signs? Take this self-test and see how you do!
The right-of-way diagrams on this page were taken from the US Army Drivers Handbook and Examination Manual for Germany [AE Pamphlet 190-34].
The answers have been verified using the aforementioned document as well as German driver's education materials. The explanations accompanying the answers are my own.
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1. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 1-2-3. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way. |
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2. When can vehicle 2 proceed? ANSWER: After vehicle 3. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection, so traffic on the right has the right-of-way. |
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3. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 2-1-3. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection, so traffic on the right has the right-of-way. However, because vehicle 3 is not conflicting with vehicle 2, the "right-of-way-to-the-right" rule does not apply to it. Therefore, vehicle 2 has the right-of-way over vehicle 1 and can proceed first, leaving vehicles 1 and 3 remaining. Since vehicle 1 is going straight, vehicle 3 must yield to it. |
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4. When can vehicle 1 proceed? ANSWER: After vehicles 3 and 2. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic from the right has the right-of-way, despite the relative sizes of the streets. NOTE: In practice, this situation is unlikely to occur as there are almost always signs posted in these circumstances. |
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5. Who has the right-of-way? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: The yield signs indicate that traffic must yield to the streetcar. |
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6. Who has the right-of-way? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: The yield signs indicate that traffic must yield to the streetcar. |
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7. Who has the right-of-way? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: Although this is an unmarked intersection, vehicles entering an Autobahn must always yield. |
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8. Who is required to yield? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: Right-turning vehicles must yield to vehicles (e.g. bicycles, buses, etc.) in a marked lane to the right. |
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9. Who is required to yield? ANSWER: Vehicle 3. REASON: The yield to the right rule applies here since there are no traffic signs indicating otherwise. NOTE: In practice, this situation is unlikely to occur as there are almost always signs posted in these circumstances. |
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10. Who goes first? ANSWER: Vehicle 2. REASON: In cases of otherwise equal right-of-way, vehicles turning right have right-of-way over vehicles turning left. |
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11. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 2-3-1. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way. |
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12. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 3-2-1. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way. |
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13. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: Vehicle 1, then 2. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way. Horse-drawn vehicles are considered legal road traffic. |
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14. Which vehicles can proceed? ANSWER: 1 and 2. REASON: Vehicle 3 has a yield sign and must yield to other vehicles. |
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15. Which vehicles must yield at these intersections? ANSWER: 2 and 3. REASON: Vehicle 2 must yield because it is an unmarked intersection and he must yield to traffic on the right. Vehicle 3 must yield because he has a yield sign. |
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16. Who goes first? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: In cases of otherwise equal right-of-way, vehicles going straight have the right-of-way over turning vehicles. |
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17. Who must yield? ANSWER: Vehicles 1 and 2. REASON: Vehicle 1 is leaving the priority road and therefore must yield to vehicle 3, which is continuing along the priority road. Vehicle 2 has a yield sign and must yield to the other vehicles. |
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18. Who has the right-of-way? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: Vehicle 2 has a yield sign and must yield to vehicle 1, which is following the priority road. |
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19. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 3-1-2. REASON: Vehicle 3 is on the priority road and has the right-of-way over the other two vehicles who have stop signs. Then, in cases of otherwise equal right-of-way, vehicles turning right have the right-of-way over vehicles turning left, so vehicle 1 can go before vehicle 2. |
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20. Who must yield? ANSWER: Vehicle 2. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way. The do not enter signs are inconsequential. |
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21. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 2-1-3. REASON: Vehicle 2 is following the priority road and has the right-of-way over the other vehicles. Since both vehicles 1 and 3 have yield signs, their right-of-way is equal, so the right-of-way goes to the vehicle on the right (in this case, vehicle 1.) |
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22. Who has the right-of-way? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: Vehicle 2 is leaving the priority road and must yield to vehicle 1 because he is staying on the priority road. |
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23. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 1-3-2. REASON: Although is on the priority road, vehicle 2 is a hand-drawn vehicle and is not considered legal road traffic. Therefore, it must yield to all other legal road traffic. Since vehicles 1 and 3 both have a yield sign, vehicle 1 can go first because it is going straight. |
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24. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 1-2-3. REASON: This is an unmarked intersection. As a result, traffic on the right has the right-of-way, despite the relative sizes of the roads. NOTE: In practice, this situation is unlikely to occur as there are almost always signs posted in these circumstances. |
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25. Does vehicle 2 have to yield? ANSWER: No. REASON: Vehicle 1 has a yield sign and must yield to vehicle 2 because he is following the priority road. Bicycles are considered legal traffic. |
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26. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 2-1-3. REASON: The streetcar (vehicle 2) is on the priority road and has right-of-way over the other vehicles who both have yield signs. Vehicle 1 is going straight and therefore has the right-of-way over vehicle 3. |
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27. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 3-2-1. REASON: Vehicles 2 and 3 are on the priority road, so they both have right-of-way over vehicle 1. Vehicle 3 has right-of-way over vehicle 2 because he is going straight. |
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28. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 3-1-2. REASON: Vehicles 1 and 3 are on the priority road and have the right-of-way over vehicle 2. However, vehicle 1 is leaving the priority road so he must yield to vehicle 3 who is staying on the priority road. |
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29. In what order can the vehicles proceed? ANSWER: 2-3-1. REASON: Vehicles 2 and 3 are on the priority road and have the right-of-way over vehicle 1. However, vehicle 3 is leaving the priority road so he must yield to vehicle 2 who is staying on the priority road. |
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30. Which vehicles must yield? ANSWER: Vehicles 2 and 3. REASON: Since an island separates the pedestrian crossing, vehicle 1 does not have to yield to the pedestrians. |
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31. Who has the right-of-way, the car or the pedestrians? ANSWER: The pedestrians. REASON: When both pedestrians and vehicles have a green light, pedestrians have the right-of-way. |
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32. Which vehicles can proceed? ANSWER: Vehicles 2 and 3. REASON: The police officer is indicating the right-of-way for vehicle 3. Vehicle 2 is turning in a separate turn lane and is not regulated by the police officer. Since no vehicles are coming from his left, he can proceed without stopping. |
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33. Which vehicles must stop? ANSWER: None of them. REASON: The police officer is indicating that all the vehicles can proceed. |
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34. Which vehicle can proceed? ANSWER: Vehicle 3. REASON: The police officer is indicating that vehicles 1 and 2 must stop. |
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35. Which vehicles must stop? ANSWER: Vehicle 1. REASON: The police officer is indicating that vehicles 2 and 3 have the right-of-way. |
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36. The traffic signal is flashing yellow. Does the driver have to stop? ANSWER: No. REASON: The flashing yellow signal indicates that the signals are not in operation, so drivers must obey the posted signs. The driver has a yield sign, but since there is no other traffic coming, they can proceed. |
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37. The traffic signal is flashing yellow. Which vehicles must stop? ANSWER: Vehicles 1 and 2. REASON: The flashing yellow signal indicates that the signals are not in operation, so drivers must obey the posted signs. Vehicles 1 and 2 have a stop sign and must stop. Vehicle 3 has a yield sign, but since no traffic is coming, they can proceed. |
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38. Who must yield? ANSWER: Vehicle 2. REASON: The fire truck has its lights and siren on, so it has the automatic right-of-way, regardless of the signs. |
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1. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that you are approaching a railway crossing that is guarded with barriers; the sign on the right indicates you are approaching a railway crossing with no barriers. NOTE: The sign on the left is being phased-out, so all railway crossings will now be marked with the sign on the right. |
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2. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that you have the right-of-way at the next intersection; the sign on the right indicates that you must yield the right-of-way to traffic on the right at the next intersection. |
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3. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that you must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic; the sign on the right indicates that you have the right-of-way over oncoming traffic. |
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4. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that you are on or are approaching a road with two-way traffic; the sign on the right indicates that you must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. |
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5. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that you must continue straight at the intersection where it is posted (i.e. no turns); the sign on the right indicates that you are on a one-way street. NOTE: The sign on the right is being phased-out. |
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6. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates a pedestrian crossing ahead; the sign on the right marks the actual location of a pedestrian crossing and indicates that you must yield to pedestrians. |
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7. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates bicycles are prohibited; the sign on the right indicates that only bicycles are allowed and that bicycles are required to use that lane or path. |
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8. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates the maximum total vehicle weight limit; the sign on the right indicates the maximum weight limit on any single axle. |
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9. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left prohibits entry for passenger vehicles (PKWs; i.e. cars, vans, and light trucks); the sign on the right prohibits entry for all multi-track motor vehicles. |
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10. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that pedestrians and bicycles can both use the entire path; the sign on the right indicates that pedestrians must use the left side of the path while bicycles must use the right side. |
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11. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates a pathway that must be used by bicycles and pedestrians; the signs on the right indicate a pedestrian path that may also be used by bicycles but cyclists are not required to use it instead of the roadway. |
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12. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that
stopping/ |
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13. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that parking is prohibited along the road where it is posted; the sign on the right indicates a general parking restriction for the entire neighborhood you are entering. |
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14. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that parking is permitted immediately to the left of the sign; the sign on the right indicates the direction to a parking facility. |
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15. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates the maximum speed limit; the sign on the right indicates the minimum speed limit. |
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16. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left is an Autobahn interchange number; the sign on the right is a minimum speed limit. |
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17. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates the speed limit for the road you are on; the sign on the right indicates the speed limit for the entire neighborhood you are entering. |
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18. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that the bumpy road begins in 400 meters; the sign on the right indicates that the bumpy road continues from this point for the next 3 kilometers. |
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19. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left marks a pre-posted emergency detour route for traffic to bypass a closed or congested section of Autobahn; the sign on the right marks a (typically) temporary detour on non-Autobahn roads. |
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20. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates you are entering an urban area where the speed limit is 50 km/h and other urban traffic regulations apply; the sign on the right indicates you are entering a small locale that does not warrant the other sign. |
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21. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left is a direction sign on the Autobahn; the sign on the right is a direction sign on a Federal or secondary road. |
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22. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left announces the next exit from the Autobahn and lists the exit number (26) and primary destination(s); the sign on the right indicates that there is an off-Autobahn service area (truck stop) at exit 27. |
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23. What is the difference in meaning between these two signs? ANSWER: The sign on the left indicates that there is a service area (truck stop) that is off the Autobahn at exit 27; the sign on the right indicates an upcoming service area that is directly attached to the Autobahn. |
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24. What does the white panel at the bottom of this sign indicate? ANSWER: It indicates the distance to the next service area with fuel. |
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25. You're driving a standard passenger car (PKW) with no trailer and wish to overtake a bus in an area where these signs are posted. Are you permitted to do so? ANSWER: Yes. Although the parent sign indicates that overtaking is prohibited, the supplemental sign indicates that the overtaking prohibition only applies to trucks, buses, and vehicles with trailers. |
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26. You're driving a standard passenger car (PKW) and wish to visit someone who lives on a street where these signs are posted. Can you drive on this street? ANSWER: Yes. Although the parent sign indicates that the road is closed to all traffic, the supplemental sign indicates that residents and those having business there are exempted. |
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27. What speed limit does this sign indicate? ANSWER: 50 km/h maximum |
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28. What speed limit does this sign indicate? ANSWER: 7 km/h maximum |
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29. It is 10:00 in the morning and you are driving down a street in an urban area with this sign. What is the current speed limit, and what is the purpose of the speed limit on this sign? ANSWER: The current speed limit is 50 km/h. This is because the speed limit shown on the sign is only in effect between 22:00 and 06:00, so the default speed limit for an urban area (50 km/h) would currently apply. When in effect, the speed limit on the sign is for the reduction of noise pollution. |
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30. How long does this 60 km/h speed limit apply? ANSWER: Until you have traveled past the curve, after which you can return to the default speed limit for the type of road you are on unless otherwise posted. |
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31. What speed limit does this sign indicate? ANSWER: The default speed limit for the road you are on (i.e. no limit on the Autobahn; 100 km/h on rural roads; 50 km/h in town). |
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32. What does the number 8 on this sign indicate? ANSWER: The index number of the parking facility (e.g. 'Parking lot #8') |
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33. What does this sign indicate? ANSWER: That you are on a priority road and have the right-of-way over all other traffic. Outside of urban areas, you may not park on this road. |
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34. What right-of-way does this sign give you? ANSWER: None. Instead, it indicates that you must yield to other traffic. |
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35. You wish to turn left at an intersection where this sign is posted. Are you permitted to do so? ANSWER: No, you may only turn right or continue straight ahead |
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36. This sign is posted on the right side of the street. Where is illegal to park in relation to this sign? ANSWER: You may not park on that side of the street prior to (i.e. approaching) this sign. |
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37. What do these signs indicate? ANSWER: These are NATO military bridge classification signs; they have no meaning for civilian traffic. |
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38. Who is required to yield at this sign? ANSWER: All vehicles must yield to streetcars. |
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39. What are the requirements to park where these signs are posted? ANSWER: You must place a parking disc on your dashboard set to the time you arrived and you may only park for 2 hours. |
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40. What are the requirements to park where these signs are posted? ANSWER: You must purchase a voucher from the nearest machine, display it on your dashboard, and return to your vehicle by the time it expires. |
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41. What are you required to have in order to drive past this sign? ANSWER: Your vehicle must have a green emissions sticker. |
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42. You're driving in an Autobahn construction zone and see this sign. What is it telling you? ANSWER: That there is 6 km to go before the end of the road work. |
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