Traffic Signs, Signals & Directions at a glance
Here you learn to read traffic signs, traffic lights and other signals, and what you must do. Each part has its own page.
- Mandatory signs: round and blue with a white symbol: you must do what they show. Think of a mandatory direction, the roundabout sign or a mandatory cycle path.
- Prohibition signs: round with a red border: the symbol shows what is not allowed, such as entering, parking or overtaking. A sub-sign can make an exception, for example for destination traffic.
- Warning signs: triangular with a red border and the point upwards. They warn of danger ahead, but do not prescribe a speed themselves.
- Sub-signs: a rectangular sign below a traffic sign says where, when or for whom the sign above applies. Read the combination from top to bottom.
- One-way street sign: square and blue with a white arrow: all traffic goes the same way. A round blue sign with an arrow is something else: a mandatory direction.
- Traffic lights: at red you stop, at yellow (amber) too, unless stopping is no longer reasonably possible. A single flashing yellow light is a warning: follow the signs and priority rules.
- Traffic controller signals: these override traffic lights, traffic signs and the normal priority rules. Read the arm signal together with your approach direction.
- Level crossing: at flashing red lights you stop. You only drive onto the track if you can get off it in one go.
Signs for parking and overtaking are covered under parking signs and no-overtaking signs. The signals above the motorway are explained under matrix signs.
