Teorio
Hazardous location
An Zusatzzeichen may specify the hazard in more detail.
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When you see the Zeichen
Immediately increase your level of attention, be ready to brake and adapt your speed to the identifiable or announced hazard. Pay particular attention to any Zusatzzeichen, as it may specify the hazard more precisely, for example as a construction-site exit, oil spill or missing road markings.
Rules
- Zeichen 101 warns of a hazard for which no more specific Gefahrzeichen is used.
- The sign does not prescribe a specific maximum speed; however, your speed must be adjusted so that you can react to the hazard in good time.
- A Zusatzzeichen may provide more details about the type, length or distance of the hazard and must be taken into account when reacting to it.
- Outside geschlossene Ortschaft, Gefahrzeichen are generally placed 150 to 250 metres before the hazard; if the distance differs significantly, this is regularly indicated by a Zusatzzeichen.
Tips
- Take your foot off the accelerator early and be ready to brake, even if the specific hazard is not yet visible.
- Immediately look for a Zusatzzeichen below the warning triangle, as it often explains what you should expect.
- Pay especially close attention to the road, the edges of the road and vehicles ahead to identify the unspecified hazard early.
- If necessary, increase your distance from the vehicle ahead so that you can stop safely if it reacts suddenly.
Common misunderstandings
- Zeichen 101 is confused with Zeichen 102. However, it does not automatically announce an intersection where Vorfahrt from the right applies.
- Some learner drivers expect a specific speed limit because of the exclamation mark. However, the sign does not contain a fixed permitted maximum speed.
- A Zusatzzeichen is overlooked or treated merely as a non-binding notice, even though it may provide the decisive information about the specific hazard.
Exam tip
In theory-test questions, pay attention to the difference between a warning and a prohibition: Zeichen 101 requires increased attention and an adapted driving style, but by itself it does not impose a fixed maximum speed, a no-overtaking rule or a Vorfahrt rule.
Did you know
Zeichen 101 is particularly general among the Gefahrzeichen: the exclamation mark does not identify a specific hazard. It is therefore often used together with a Zusatzzeichen when no specific Gefahrzeichen adequately represents the situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I always have to brake when I see Zeichen 101?
You do not have to brake hard immediately in every case. However, you must increase your level of attention, be ready to brake and adjust your speed so that you can deal with the announced hazard safely.
What hazard does the exclamation mark announce?
The sign gives a general warning of a specific hazard for which no more suitable Gefahrzeichen is used. A Zusatzzeichen may explain what the hazard involves.
Does Zeichen 101 automatically mean that a lower maximum speed applies?
No, Zeichen 101 alone does not set a specific maximum speed. A speed restriction applies only if it has been ordered separately; regardless of this, your speed must be adapted to the hazard.
Does Zeichen 101 mean that the right-before-left rule applies at the next intersection?
No, the sign does not establish its own Vorfahrt rule. Priority to the right applies at intersections and junctions only when no other rule is established by traffic signs, traffic lights or special local circumstances.
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