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Emergency stopping and breakdown bay
Mandatory or prohibitory sign Anyone driving a vehicle may stop in an emergency stopping and breakdown bay only in an emergency or in the event of a breakdown.
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When you see the Zeichen
Continue driving normally if there is neither an emergency nor a breakdown. If you have to stop for one of these reasons, drive fully into the emergency stopping and breakdown bay and secure the vehicle. After the danger has been dealt with, leave the bay only if you can merge safely into traffic.
Rules
- The marked emergency stopping and breakdown bay may be used for stopping only in the event of an emergency or breakdown.
- Taking a break, changing drivers, making a phone call or adjusting the navigation device do not justify stopping there.
- The vehicle should be parked as fully inside the bay as possible so that the carriageway remains clear.
- In the event of a breakdown or accident, the danger area must be secured as appropriate to the circumstances, in particular by switching on the Warnblinkanlage and, if necessary, putting out a warning triangle.
- The bay is not an additional lane and must not be used for overtaking or passing slow-moving traffic.
Tips
- Reduce your speed in a controlled manner when entering and signal in good time, without braking sharply while still on the lane.
- Park the vehicle as far to the right and as fully inside the bay as possible.
- Switch on the Warnblinkanlage and put on a high-visibility vest before getting out if you have to leave the vehicle because of a breakdown or danger.
- In tunnels, use an available emergency call facility, as this can transmit your exact location directly.
Common misunderstandings
- The sign is confused with permission to use a Seitenstreifen. However, Zeichen 328 does not permit use as a lane.
- Many people consider taking a short break or making an urgent phone call to be an emergency. Such personal reasons generally do not permit stopping in the bay.
- Some believe that switching on the hazard warning lights alone makes any stopping permissible. They only indicate a danger and do not replace the required emergency or breakdown-related reason.
Exam tip
In exam questions, it is often decisive whether there really is an emergency or breakdown. Taking a break, changing drivers or using a mobile phone are not permissible reasons for stopping in an emergency stopping and breakdown bay.
Did you know
Emergency stopping and breakdown bays are particularly common in tunnels and on Autobahn sections without a continuous Seitenstreifen. They provide a protected area for vehicles that cannot continue driving because of a breakdown or emergency.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a short break in the emergency stopping and breakdown bay?
No. The bay may be used for stopping only in the event of an emergency or breakdown; even a very short rest break is not permitted there.
Can I stop there to make a phone call or adjust the navigation device?
No, these activities generally constitute neither an emergency nor a breakdown. You must use a regular car park or service area for this.
What can be considered an emergency?
An emergency could, for example, be a sudden serious health problem affecting someone in the vehicle. Mere time pressure, tiredness or a missed call are not sufficient.
How do I leave the bay again after a breakdown?
Check the traffic behind you carefully, signal in good time and pull out only when there is a sufficiently large gap. Moving traffic has priority; do not force your way into the traffic flow.
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