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Block detour
The sign announces a traffic routing prescribed by the signs “Prescribed direction of travel” (signs 209 to 214).
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When you see the Zeichen
Expect to follow the prescribed directions around a city block or a closed-off area. Move into the correct lane in good time and pay particular attention to the following Zeichen 209 to 214, which make the respective direction of travel mandatory.
Rules
- Zeichen 590 announces a traffic route that is made mandatory by Zeichen 209 to 214.
- The direction signs displayed further along must be obeyed; you must not drive or turn against the prescribed direction.
- The sign itself does not cancel any one-way-street rule, closure or other existing traffic regulation.
- The route around the block does not permit use of the Seitenstreifen and does not contain any rules concerning stopping or parking.
Tips
- Remember the route shown so that you do not have to change direction unexpectedly at the following intersections.
- After passing the sign, specifically look out for the blue circular Zeichen 209 to 214 and move into the correct lane for the prescribed direction at an early stage.
- Follow the entire signposted route instead of independently choosing what seems to be a shortcut after the first turn.
Common misunderstandings
- Zeichen 590 is confused with a mere recommended diversion. However, the announced route is made mandatory by the subsequent Vorschriftzeichen.
- Some learner drivers believe that the sign already requires a specific turn at its location. It initially announces the traffic route regulated by Zeichen 209 to 214.
- The diagram is sometimes understood as a roundabout. However, a route around a block is not a roundabout and does not establish the Vorfahrt rules that apply there.
Exam tip
In exam questions, pay attention to the difference between an announcement and an immediate instruction: Zeichen 590 announces the route around the block; mandatory turning or direction-of-travel requirements arise from the subsequent Zeichen 209 to 214.
Did you know
Zeichen 590 presents the traffic route clearly as a continuous route, while the individual directions of travel along the route are prescribed by Zeichen 209 to 214.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to follow the route shown around the block?
You must comply with the directions of travel prescribed by Zeichen 209 to 214 further along the route. Zeichen 590 informs you in advance about the continuous course of this traffic route.
Is Zeichen 590 a normal diversion sign?
No. It announces a traffic route prescribed by Vorschriftzeichen and is not merely a non-binding recommendation for an alternative route.
Do the Vorfahrt rules for a roundabout apply when driving around a block?
No. Zeichen 590 does not indicate a roundabout. At the individual intersections and junctions, the Vorfahrt signs and traffic lights present there apply, or otherwise the general Vorfahrt rules.
May I leave the route around the block before reaching the end?
Only if this is possible without violating the subsequent direction-of-travel requirements or other traffic signs. A prescribed turn or route around an obstruction must not be avoided by taking a different direction of travel.
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