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Prohibition for vehicles carrying water-polluting loads
Regulatory prohibition Anyone driving a vehicle may not use the road with more than 20 l of water-polluting load.
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When you see the Zeichen
Check whether your vehicle is carrying more than 20 litres of water-polluting cargo. If so, you must not drive on the road marked with this sign and must choose a permitted alternative route in good time.
Rules
- The prohibition applies to vehicles carrying more than 20 litres of water-polluting cargo.
- At exactly 20 litres, the prohibition does not yet apply according to the wording of the sign.
- What matters is the type and quantity of the cargo, not the type of vehicle, its permissible maximum mass or whether it carries a dangerous goods marking.
- The prohibition begins at the location of the sign and applies to the following section of road, unless otherwise specified by Zusatzzeichen.
Tips
- Before setting off, check the product and transport information to determine whether the cargo is water-polluting and what total quantity is being carried.
- If you are carrying more than 20 litres, plan a route before setting off on which you will not have to observe Zeichen 269.
- Look out for advance direction signs and Zusatzzeichen so that you can turn off safely before the prohibition begins.
- Do not confuse the symbol with Zeichen 261: Zeichen 269 expressly refers to water-polluting cargo.
Common misunderstandings
- Many learner drivers mistake Zeichen 269 for a general prohibition on dangerous goods. Zeichen 261, on the other hand, applies to motor vehicles carrying dangerous goods that are required to display a marking.
- The limit is often misunderstood: using the road is prohibited only when carrying more than 20 litres, not when carrying exactly 20 litres.
- Some people think the prohibition applies only to tanker vehicles. However, it can also apply to other vehicles if they are transporting a corresponding quantity of water-polluting cargo.
Exam tip
Pay close attention to the quantity and type of cargo in exam questions: A vehicle carrying exactly 20 litres of water-polluting cargo may pass; at 21 litres, the prohibition applies. The absence of a dangerous goods marking does not automatically override Zeichen 269.
Did you know
Zeichen 269 is used in particular to protect areas sensitive to water from the consequences of leaking cargo, for example near water protection areas or bodies of water.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zeichen 269 apply only to lorries or tankers?
No. The sign is not linked to a particular type of vehicle, but to the water-polluting cargo being carried and its quantity.
May I continue driving with exactly 20 litres of water-polluting cargo?
Yes, because using the road is prohibited only when carrying more than 20 litres. As soon as the quantity exceeds 20 litres, you must not drive on the marked section.
Is Zeichen 269 the same as the dangerous goods prohibition under Zeichen 261?
No. Zeichen 261 prohibits marked motor vehicles carrying dangerous goods from driving, whereas Zeichen 269 applies to more than 20 litres of water-polluting cargo.
What must I do if my cargo falls under the prohibition?
You must not enter the closed-off section of road. Choose a permitted diversion in good time and take any advance direction signs or Zusatzzeichen into account.
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