Teorio
Federal roads
Download Teorio and practise for the theory exam.
When you see the Zeichen
The sign indicates which federal road you are on or which federal road can be reached by following the direction signs. Check the number shown against your planned route; the sign itself does not require any special driving manoeuvre or change in speed.
Rules
- Zeichen 401 identifies a federal road by displaying its road number in black on a yellow background.
- The sign is a direction sign and neither regulates Vorfahrt nor prescribes a specific speed.
- A federal road can run through a built-up area or outside one; therefore, no speed limit can be inferred from Zeichen 401 alone.
- Zeichen 401 does not make the road an Autobahn or a Kraftfahrstraße. The respective special traffic signs are decisive for this.
- Other traffic signs, such as speed limits, no-overtaking restrictions or Vorfahrt signs, apply regardless of the road's classification as a federal road.
Tips
- Remember the number of your federal road before setting off so that you can quickly compare Zeichen 401 with your route.
- At junctions and interchanges, check whether the number continues straight ahead, to the left or to the right.
- Do not confuse the small yellow route-number sign with the yellow directional arrow sign according to Zeichen 415: Zeichen 401 identifies the route, while Zeichen 415 indicates a direction.
- Do not adjust your speed solely because of the sign; also take the built-up area, the type of road construction and any additional traffic signs into account.
Common misunderstandings
- Many learner drivers assume that every federal road is a Kraftfahrstraße. However, Zeichen 401 does not contain any special usage rules for Kraftfahrstraßen.
- The sign is sometimes interpreted as a Vorfahrt sign. However, it does not automatically make the federal road a Vorfahrtstraße.
- Outside built-up areas, people often assume a blanket speed of 130 km/h on federal roads. The recommended speed of 130 km/h does not follow from Zeichen 401; for passenger cars without trailers, the general maximum on ordinary roads outside built-up areas is 100 km/h unless otherwise specified.
Exam tip
A typical exam trap is whether Zeichen 401 automatically identifies a Vorfahrtstraße, Kraftfahrstraße or a higher maximum speed. The correct answer is: it is used only to identify and provide directions for the federal road; any further legal consequences arise only from other signs and the general rules.
Did you know
In everyday usage, the number of a federal road is preceded by a “B”, for example “B 27”. Zeichen 401 itself generally displays only the number on a yellow background.
Frequently asked questions
What speed applies after Zeichen 401?
The sign itself does not specify a speed. In the absence of different signs, the general rule for passenger cars without trailers is 50 km/h in built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas on ordinary roads.
Are pedestrians or bicycles allowed to use a road marked with Zeichen 401?
Zeichen 401 alone does not prohibit their use. However, restrictions may result from other signs, such as the designation as a Kraftfahrstraße or an explicit traffic prohibition.
Does traffic on a federal road automatically have Vorfahrt?
No. Vorfahrt is determined by traffic lights, Vorfahrt signs or, where no such regulations apply, by the general rules such as priority to the right.
How does Zeichen 401 differ from Zeichen 405 and 410?
Zeichen 401 identifies a federal road by displaying its number on a yellow background. Zeichen 405 indicates Autobahnen and Zeichen 410 indicates European roads; a European road number alone likewise does not imply a separate type of road.
Study for the Theorieprüfung
Teorio has all the theory material in your own language. Download the app and study whenever it suits you.
