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Traffic cone
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When you see the Zeichen
Do not drive on the section of road marked or cordoned off by traffic cones. Follow the route indicated by the arrangement of the cones at an appropriate speed and with sufficient lateral clearance.
Rules
- Traffic cones are traffic control devices and prohibit driving on the section of road they mark.
- The traffic guidance created by the cones must be followed; traffic cones must neither be passed in a way that requires driving on the hatched area nor driven over.
- Zeichen 610 does not, by itself, specify a particular maximum speed. However, a significantly lower speed may still be necessary because of roadworks, a hazard or a narrowing of the carriageway.
- Instructions from police officers or other authorised persons, as well as traffic lights, must also be obeyed in the area of the traffic cones.
Tips
- Identify early whether the cones indicate a narrowing of the carriageway, a change of lane or a complete road closure.
- Reduce your speed in good time and avoid abrupt steering immediately before the first traffic cone.
- Keep a sufficient lateral clearance because cones can easily be displaced by wind, vehicles travelling ahead or roadworks.
- If your lane ends at a line of cones, move over in good time or, in heavy traffic, merge using the Reißverschlussverfahren.
Common misunderstandings
- Traffic cones are regarded as a non-binding warning. In fact, you must not drive on the section of road they mark.
- Learner drivers believe that every traffic cone automatically requires Schrittgeschwindigkeit or a particular maximum speed. No fixed speed follows from Zeichen 610 alone.
- The traffic cone is confused with a Leitbake: a traffic cone is a cone-shaped, easily movable element, whereas a Leitbake is an upright, usually hatched barrier used to guide traffic.
Exam tip
A typical exam trap is whether you may use a gap between traffic cones. What matters is not whether the vehicle can fit through, but whether doing so would mean driving on the restricted area marked by the cones; if so, driving there is prohibited.
Did you know
In Germany, traffic cones are commonly known colloquially as „Lübecker Hütchen“. As Zeichen 610, they are legally classified as traffic control devices and are used mainly to provide short-term protection and flexible traffic guidance.
Frequently asked questions
May I drive over a traffic cone if no roadworks personnel are visible?
No. The marked section of road remains closed regardless of whether work is currently taking place there.
Does Zeichen 610 specify a particular speed?
No, the traffic cone does not indicate a fixed speed. However, you must drive slowly enough to follow the changed traffic layout safely and react to hazards.
May I briefly move a traffic cone aside to drive past it?
No. Traffic control devices must not be removed or altered without authorisation; use only the section of road that is open to traffic.
What is the difference between a traffic cone and an Absperrschranke?
Traffic cones are usually placed in rows to flexibly separate or guide traffic. An Absperrschranke, on the other hand, forms a clearly recognisable barrier extending across the road, for example in front of an area that is completely closed.
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