Teorio
Roundabout
Requirement or prohibition 1. Anyone driving a vehicle must follow the prescribed direction of travel to the right in the roundabout. 2. Anyone driving a vehicle must not drive over the central island of the roundabout. The only vehicles exempt from this prohibition are those whose dimensions would otherwise make it impossible to drive through. Such vehicles may drive over the central island and the edge of the carriageway if any danger to other road users is excluded. 3. Stopping on the carriageway within the roundabout is prohibited. Explanation Follow the prescribed direction of travel to the right in the roundabout and go around the central island. Do not signal when entering; when leaving the roundabout, you must signal right in good time. If sign 205 “Vorfahrt gewähren” is also installed at the entrance, you must give way to traffic on the circulatory carriageway.
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When you see the Zeichen
Follow the prescribed direction of travel to the right at the roundabout and drive around the central island. Do not signal when entering; when leaving the roundabout, you must signal right in good time. If Zeichen 205 „Vorfahrt gewähren“ is also displayed at the entrance, you must give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
Rules
- The central island must be driven around clockwise; you must not drive against the prescribed direction of travel.
- As a rule, you must not drive over the central island. Only vehicles that would otherwise be unable to pass because of their dimensions may drive over the central island and the roadway boundary, provided that nobody is endangered.
- You must not stop on the roadway within the roundabout.
- When entering a roundabout marked with Zeichen 215 and Zeichen 205, signalling is prohibited; when leaving, you must signal right.
- The right of way of traffic on the roundabout is established at the entrance by the combination of Zeichen 215 and Zeichen 205, not by Zeichen 215 alone.
Tips
- Reduce your speed before entering and pay particular attention to traffic already on the roundabout.
- Move into the correct lane for your intended exit in good time, without cutting across other lanes, and only use your right turn signal before leaving.
- Do not drive over the inner ring or the paved central island unnecessarily; these areas are generally intended only for particularly large vehicles.
- Pay particular attention to pedestrians and cyclists crossing at entrances and exits, and check their specific Vorfahrt or priority situation.
Common misunderstandings
- Many learner drivers signal left when entering. At a correspondingly marked roundabout, however, signalling when entering is prohibited.
- It is often assumed that Zeichen 215 alone automatically gives traffic on the roundabout the right of way. Zeichen 205 must also be displayed at the entrance for this to apply.
- The paved inner area is sometimes used like a normal traffic lane. You must not drive over it as a rule; the exception applies only to vehicles that would otherwise be unable to pass through the roundabout because of their dimensions.
Exam tip
In exam questions, pay close attention to whether Zeichen 205 is shown in addition to Zeichen 215. A typical trap is the statement that traffic on the roundabout always has Vorfahrt solely because of Zeichen 215; you must also not signal when entering, although you must signal when leaving.
Did you know
At German roundabouts, Zeichen 215 is typically displayed together with Zeichen 205 „Vorfahrt gewähren“. The two signs have different functions: Zeichen 215 prescribes the direction of travel and rules of conduct at the roundabout, while Zeichen 205 regulates Vorfahrt at the entrance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to signal when entering the roundabout?
No. At a roundabout marked with Zeichen 215 and Zeichen 205, signalling when entering is prohibited. When leaving, you must signal right in good time.
Who has Vorfahrt at the entrance?
If Zeichen 215 and Zeichen 205 are displayed at the entrance, entering traffic must wait; traffic on the roundabout has Vorfahrt. Zeichen 215 alone does not regulate Vorfahrt.
Can I stop briefly in the roundabout to let someone get out?
No. You must not stop on the roadway within the roundabout, even just briefly to let someone get in or out.
Can a long lorry drive over the paved inner area?
Only if it would otherwise be unable to pass through the roundabout because of its dimensions. The central island and roadway boundary may be driven over only if any danger to other road users can be ruled out.
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