Road narrowingGermany
27. Road narrowing
A road narrowing is a section where the available width of the road or carriageway becomes smaller. The narrowing may occur on both sides, on one side only, or because one or more traffic lanes end.
Drivers should reduce speed, observe approaching and adjacent traffic, maintain sufficient lateral clearance and merge when necessary. Warning signs do not always determine priority, so drivers must follow any priority signs, lane markings and local traffic rules.
Wikimedia.org • M_H.DE • CC BY-SA
What does a road-narrowing warning mean in Germany?
Germany’s Verengte Fahrbahn and Einseitig verengte Fahrbahn warnings identify narrowing on both sides or on one side. A separate priority sign can regulate opposing traffic through the restricted section.
🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Germany StVO: §§3,6,7(4); Annex 1, signs 120–121
Warning for a road narrowing.
English • Traffic sign 120 • Road narrows.
Deutsch • Verkehrszeichen 120 • Verengte Fahrbahn.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Verwaltungsvorschriften-im-internet.de • VzKat, Anhang (Gesamtübersicht)
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
nach den historischen Vorgaben digital umgesetzt durch Mediatus • Public domain • Source revision 2017-05-06. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Warning for a road narrowing on the left.
English • Traffic sign 121-20 • Road narrows on one side — on the left.
Deutsch • Verkehrszeichen 121-20 • Einseitig verengte Fahrbahn – Verengung links.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Verwaltungsvorschriften-im-internet.de • VzKat, Anhang (Gesamtübersicht)
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Erste, nur grob korrekte Datei: Andreas 06. Nach den amtlichen Vorgaben 2017 digital umgesetzt durch: Mediatus • Public domain • Source revision 2017-09-01. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Warning for a road narrowing on the right.
English • Traffic sign 121-10 • Road narrows on one side — on the right.
Deutsch • Verkehrszeichen 121-10 • Einseitig verengte Fahrbahn – Verengung rechts.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Verwaltungsvorschriften-im-internet.de • VzKat, Anhang (Gesamtübersicht)
Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Erste, nur grob korrekte Datei: Andreas 06. Nach den amtlichen Vorgaben 2016 digital umgesetzt durch: Mediatus • Public domain • Source revision 2017-09-01. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Does a narrowing warning give you priority in Germany?
No. A warning describes the reduced width, rather than allocating priority or setting a numerical speed limit. Follow any separate priority signs, signals and meeting rules, and slow enough to pass safely or wait before entering.
🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Germany StVO: §§3,6,7(4); Annex 1, signs 120–121
What should you do if traffic lanes merge at a narrowing in Germany?
Germany requires the Reißverschlussverfahren where a lane ends or is obstructed and the conditions in the Road Traffic Regulations apply. Vehicles from the affected lane merge alternately immediately before the restriction.
🔗 gesetze-im-internet.de • Germany StVO: §§3,6,7(4); Annex 1, signs 120–121

Traffic rules
Germany