Teorio
Gradient
The supplementary sign indicates the gradient in per cent.
When you see the sign
Read the supplementary plate together with the main sign and be prepared for a hill with the indicated gradient. Adjust your speed and select a suitable gear before the steep section begins, so that you maintain control and engine power.
Rules
- The number indicates the gradient as a percentage, not the length of the hill or the distance to the hill.
- A gradient of 10 percent means approximately 10 metres of difference in elevation per 100 metres of horizontal distance.
- Sign 813.1 is a supplementary plate and must be interpreted together with the main sign beneath which it is placed.
- The supplementary plate does not establish a separate speed limit; speed must be adapted to the gradient, visibility, road conditions and traffic.
Tips
- Select a lower gear early on a steep uphill section so that the vehicle maintains traction without unnecessary gear changes.
- Keep a good distance because heavy vehicles ahead may lose speed quickly on the hill.
- Avoid starting an overtaking manoeuvre if the gradient results in poor visibility or the vehicle does not have sufficient acceleration.
- Monitor your speed after the hill, as the vehicle may accelerate quickly when the terrain levels out or slopes downhill.
Common misconceptions
- Thinking that the percentage indicates how many metres there are to the hill. Distance is indicated by supplementary plate 802.
- Interpreting the number as a recommended or mandatory speed.
- Thinking that 10 percent means a 10-degree slope. Percentages and degrees are different measurements.
Test yourself
Easy
What does the percentage on this supplementary plate indicate?
- AThe length of the hill in one hundred metres
- BThe distance to the hill in metres
- CThe recommended speed in kilometres per hour
- DThe road's gradient in percent
Medium
You see this supplementary plate below a warning sign before a hill. How should you drive?
- ABrake because the percentage establishes a new speed limit.
- BInterpret it together with the warning sign and adjust your speed to the conditions.
- CMaintain a speed corresponding to the percentage on the supplementary plate.
- DDrive unchanged because the supplementary plate only indicates the distance ahead.
Hard
The supplementary plate says 10 %. What is the correct interpretation?
- AApproximately 10 metres until the hill begins on the section of road
- BApproximately a 10-degree incline per 100 metres of horizontal distance
- CApproximately 10 metres of height difference per 100 metres of horizontal distance
- DApproximately 10 kilometres per hour as the recommended speed on the hill
Theory test tip
A common trap is confusing the percentage with distance or speed. When you see a percentage sign, the sign indicates the difference in elevation relative to the horizontal distance.
Did you know
Percentages are used because they make the gradient easy to understand: A gradient of 10 percent corresponds to approximately 5.7 degrees, not 10 degrees. Such supplementary plates are particularly useful on Norwegian roads with steep mountain passes and valley sections.
Frequently asked questions
What does 10 percent on the supplementary plate mean?
It means approximately 10 metres of difference in elevation per 100 metres of horizontal distance. It means neither a 10-degree slope nor a speed limit of 10 km/h.
Does the percentage alone constitute a mandatory requirement?
No. Sign 813.1 is a supplementary plate that provides additional information for the main sign, and it does not by itself introduce a separate mandatory requirement or speed limit.
How can I distinguish this sign from the supplementary plate Avstand?
The gradient is shown as a number with a percentage sign. Avstand, on the other hand, shows a length, usually in metres or kilometres, and indicates how far it is to the location where the main sign applies.
Why should I select a gear before the hill?
The correct gear provides better control and sufficient engine power throughout the uphill section. A late gear change can lead to unnecessary loss of speed, particularly when traffic behind is heavy.
Practise for the theory test
Teorio has the complete theory syllabus in your own language. Download the app and practise whenever it suits you.
