Road signs in Germany

Traffic signs, road markings, installations, and symbols used in Germany are prescribed by the Road Traffic Regulation (StVO, German: Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung) and the Traffic Signs Catalog (VzKat, German: Verkehrszeichenkatalog).

[1][2][3] §§ 39 to 43 of the StVO regulate the effect of traffic signs and installations.

[1] The latest version of the VzKat was issued in May 2017 as the annex to the General Administrative Rules for the Road Traffic Regulation (VwV-StVO, German: Allgemeine Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung).

[4] The StVO, the VwV-StVO and the VzKat are supported by technical rules, mostly published by the Road and Transportation Research Association [de] (FGSV), especially: Each sign has an assigned number.

The adoption of the provisions of both conventions led to the development of a new StVO which entered into force in 1971 in West Germany.