Teorio
Lamp ring
The sign identifies, within built-up areas, lamps that do not remain lit all night. The red field may contain white lettering stating when the lamp is extinguished.
Download Teorio and practise for the theory exam.
When you see the Zeichen
Expect the marked street lamp to be switched off temporarily at night; a time shown in the red field indicates when it will be switched off. If you want to park there beyond that time, you must ensure that your vehicle remains sufficiently visible even when the lamp is off.
Rules
- Zeichen 394 marks a lamp within geschlossene Ortschaften that does not remain lit all night.
- A white time shown in the red field indicates when the lamp goes out.
- The sign does not create a Haltverbot or a Parkverbot.
- A parked vehicle requires its own lighting if it is not sufficiently visible because of the street lighting; within built-up areas, it is generally sufficient to make the side of the vehicle facing the carriageway visible using parking lights or another permitted method.
- The driver is responsible for ensuring that the parked vehicle remains sufficiently visible.
Tips
- Before parking, check the switch-off time shown on the lamp ring and compare it with how long you expect to park.
- If you are parking at night for an extended period, do not rely on the lamp; check whether your vehicle will still be sufficiently visible after it is switched off.
- If visibility is inadequate, use the parking light and ensure that the side of the vehicle facing the carriageway is made visible.
- Do not confuse the lamp ring with an ordinary reflective sticker on the lamp post.
Common misunderstandings
- Learner drivers mistakenly think that the lamp ring indicates a Parkverbot or Haltverbot.
- The time in the red field is sometimes understood as the switch-on time; it indicates when the lamp goes out.
- Some people assume that a parked vehicle never needs lighting within built-up areas. This is only true if it remains sufficiently visible due to the existing street lighting.
Exam tip
The typical trap in exam questions is to infer a Parkverbot from the lamp ring. What matters instead is whether a vehicle parked there would still be sufficiently visible without its own lighting after the indicated switch-off time.
Did you know
Zeichen 394 is attached directly to a street lamp and is therefore not a typical free-standing traffic sign. It specifically provides information about the time-limited operation of that particular lamp.
Frequently asked questions
Am I allowed to park at a lamp with a lamp ring?
Yes, Zeichen 394 does not prohibit parking. However, other traffic signs, road markings and the general parking regulations must be observed.
What does the time in the red field mean?
It indicates when the marked lamp goes out. Anyone parking there for longer must take into account how visible their vehicle will be after that time.
Do I have to slow down when driving past?
The sign does not prescribe a specific speed. At night, however, you should expect the area to be less well lit after the lamp has been switched off.
Do I always have to switch on the parking light when parking?
No. If the vehicle remains sufficiently visible due to other street lighting, its own lighting is not required. If it is no longer sufficiently visible after the marked lamp goes out, it must be made visible in accordance with the regulations.
Study for the Theorieprüfung
Teorio has all the theory material in your own language. Download the app and study whenever it suits you.
