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Exit from the Autobahn
On Kraftfahrstraßen or roads constructed in a motorway-like manner, the corresponding sign with black lettering on a yellow background indicates the exit. The sign may also be displayed on a white background.
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When you see the Zeichen
The sign marks the location or direction of an exit. If you want to leave, move into the right-hand lane in good time and only cross the lane line onto the exit lane; otherwise, stay on the through carriageway.
Rules
- The sign indicates an exit but does not require you to leave the Autobahn.
- When moving onto the exit lane, you must not endanger following traffic; signal the lane change in good time.
- You must not cross solid carriageway boundary lines or hatched areas to reach an exit you have already missed.
- Zeichen 333 itself does not impose a speed limit; speed limits apply only if indicated by additional traffic signs or under the general regulations.
- On Kraftfahrstraßen or roads built to Autobahn standards, the corresponding exit sign may have black lettering on a yellow or white background.
Tips
- Check the route signs early and move into the right-hand lane before the exit instead of changing abruptly at the start of the exit lane.
- As a general rule, reduce your speed only once you are on the exit lane, and observe any speed limits imposed there.
- Watch out for tight bends, traffic queues or slower vehicles in the exit area.
- If you have missed the exit, continue to the next one; never stop or reverse.
Common misunderstandings
- The sign is incorrectly understood as requiring you to leave. It merely indicates the exit.
- Learner drivers brake sharply while still on the through lane, even though the exit lane should be used to slow down safely.
- The colour variants are confused: on the Autobahn, route signs are typically blue, while corresponding signs on other roads built to similar standards may be yellow or white.
Exam tip
A typical exam trap is the claim that Zeichen 333 requires you to leave the road or imposes a specific speed. Both are wrong: it marks the exit; binding speed limits are imposed by separate signs.
Did you know
Zeichen 333 follows the blue Autobahn route-sign design. On Kraftfahrstraßen or roads built to Autobahn standards, however, the corresponding exit sign may have black lettering on a yellow or white background.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to leave the Autobahn at Zeichen 333?
No. The sign only indicates the exit; if your destination cannot be reached via this exit, stay on the through carriageway.
Can I brake sharply while still in the right-hand Autobahn lane?
As a general rule, you should only reduce your speed significantly once you are on the exit lane. You must take into account traffic queues, the course of the road and any imposed speed limits.
What should I do if I have missed the exit?
Continue to the next suitable exit. Turning around, reversing or stopping on the Autobahn or in the exit area is prohibited and extremely dangerous.
Does Zeichen 333 specify a maximum speed?
No, the sign does not impose a speed limit of its own. Separate speed-limit signs apply, as does a speed appropriate to the visibility, traffic and course of the bend.
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