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Direction board in bends
The direction board in bends may also be installed in separated form.
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When you see the Zeichen
Identify the indicated curve early and adjust your speed so that you can negotiate it safely within your lane. Pay particular attention to the arrangement of the direction boards, as they are usually placed on the outside of a curve that is difficult to see or particularly dangerous.
Rules
- The direction board indicates the course and direction of a curve.
- It does not prescribe a specific speed; however, under § 3 StVO, your speed must be adapted to visibility, the course of the road, the condition of the road surface and the traffic situation.
- The board may be installed as one continuous surface or in a segmented form consisting of several individual direction elements.
- The direction board is not an instruction to turn and does not replace either a mandatory direction sign or a speed limit.
- Despite the visual guidance, you must remain in your lane and must not cut across the curve over the centre of the road.
Tips
- Brake to a safe speed before entering the curve whenever possible, and only accelerate again once you can see enough of the road ahead.
- Do not focus on a single board; instead, follow the line of direction elements with your eyes towards the exit of the curve.
- If there are many direction elements close together, expect the curve to be pronounced or difficult to see.
- Allow for extra safety margins, especially in wet conditions, snow or darkness, because road grip and the visibility of the curve may be reduced.
Common misunderstandings
- The direction board is incorrectly understood as prescribing a direction of travel. It only indicates the course of the curve.
- Learner drivers assume that the sign automatically indicates a specific maximum speed. It does not establish a fixed speed.
- The segmented form is confused with construction-site guide posts, even though it is used to provide visual guidance through a curve.
Exam tip
A typical exam trap is whether the sign bindingly prescribes a specific direction of travel or speed. The correct answer is: It highlights the curve; the only resulting obligation is to adjust your speed on your own responsibility to the visible course of the road.
Did you know
Direction boards are typically placed on the outside of curves. In segmented form, several separate elements can make the course of the curve visible step by step.
Frequently asked questions
When I see a direction board in a curve, do I have to turn in the direction of the arrows?
No. The direction shown indicates the course of the road or curve and is not an instruction to turn.
Does Zeichen 625 automatically indicate a specific maximum speed?
No, the sign does not contain a numerical speed limit. Nevertheless, you must drive slowly enough to negotiate the curve safely and be able to react within the distance you can see.
What does the segmented form of the direction board mean?
The guidance is shown not by one continuous board but by several separate direction elements. Their meaning remains the same: they make the direction and course of the curve recognisable.
How does a direction board differ from a guide post?
The direction board is specifically used to provide visual guidance in curves. Guide posts, on the other hand, primarily indicate lateral boundaries, obstacles or traffic routing, for example in the area of roadworks.
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