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Road narrows on one side
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When you see the Zeichen
Reduce your speed and use the symbol to identify which side of the carriageway narrows. Watch for oncoming traffic and vehicles in adjacent lanes, and be ready to brake; the sign itself regulates neither Vorfahrt nor priority.
Rules
- The line pointing inward indicates whether the carriageway narrows from the right or from the left.
- If the obstruction or narrowing is on your side of the carriageway, you must generally let oncoming vehicles pass first.
- The sign does not prescribe a specific maximum speed; however, your speed must be adapted to the width of the carriageway, visibility and traffic.
- The Reißverschlussverfahren applies only when one lane ends where there are multiple lanes in the same direction. It is carried out immediately before the narrowing.
- Zeichen 121 on its own does not give either direction of travel priority; this may be regulated by other traffic signs, such as Zeichen 208 or 308.
Tips
- Check your mirrors and blind spot in good time before changing lanes or moving sideways to avoid the narrowing.
- Keep a sufficient lateral distance from barriers, kerbs, cyclists and oncoming vehicles.
- Do not move unnecessarily early into the lane that continues when a lane ends; in dense traffic, use both lanes up to the narrowing.
- Especially at roadworks, expect the actual carriageway to feel narrower and remember that larger vehicles need more space.
Common misunderstandings
- Many learner drivers believe that Zeichen 121 automatically gives them priority over oncoming traffic. In fact, this depends among other things on which side the obstruction is on.
- The sign is confused with a narrowing on both sides of the carriageway; with Zeichen 121, only one line points inward.
- It is often assumed that the Reißverschlussverfahren always applies. This is only the case when a lane in one direction ends, not at every narrow section where traffic travels in opposite directions.
Exam tip
In exam images, pay close attention to which side the line points inward on. If the narrowing is on your side and there is oncoming traffic, you generally have to wait; the Gefahrzeichen itself does not establish priority.
Did you know
Zeichen 121 is available in mirror-image versions: the line pointing inward shows whether the narrowing is on the right or left.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always have to stop at Zeichen 121?
No. You must adjust your speed so that you can pass the narrowing safely and, if necessary, wait in good time.
Who may drive through the narrowing first when there is oncoming traffic?
If the obstruction is on your side, you must generally let oncoming traffic pass first. Signs giving priority differently or traffic lights take precedence over this rule.
Does the Reißverschlussverfahren automatically apply at a one-sided narrowing?
No. It applies only when one lane ends or is not continuously passable where there are multiple lanes in the same direction; in that case, vehicles merge alternately immediately before the narrowing.
Does Zeichen 121 prescribe a specific speed?
No, it is a Gefahrzeichen and does not contain its own speed limit. Nevertheless, you must drive slowly enough for the narrowing, visibility and other traffic conditions.
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