A new traffic sign causes confusion: A digital green wave has appeared in some places.
Few drivers know what it means.
Berlin – Always obeying the traffic rules in Germany doesn't always seem easy.
No wonder, since there are street signs on many corners that you are not necessarily sure of what they mean.
A relatively new digital sign is causing confusion in some places.
A green wave in the white circle can be seen.
What do consumers, i.e. drivers, have to consider?
Crazy traffic signs in Germany: This is the meaning of the green wave
Some traffic signs have been known since elementary school, others are forgotten immediately after the driving test.
But there are also clues that many have never seen before.
For example, a street sign tells drivers to turn off their navigation systems.
A similar case could be a relatively new digital sign.
The digital traffic sign: This is exactly what the green wave looks like
This shows a number in a blue square in the upper area.
Experienced drivers know: blue signs mean fixed regulations.
A blue sign with white circles and numbers are so-called landmarks.
For example, directions, minimum speeds or traffic zones are marked.
However, at the bottom there is a white circle with a green wave.
A sign that is unique among the approximately 650 different traffic signs in Germany.
It is estimated that there are around 20 million traffic signs in Germany.
Despite this, or precisely because of this, only a few people have been able to spot the "green wave" up until now.
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The shield of a green wave.
The rare traffic sign is in Heidelberg on Speyerer Strasse.
© Radosław Drożdżewski (Zwiadowca21)/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Surfing the green wave: That means the rare traffic sign
What does the traffic sign mean?
The top panel displays a recommended speed.
The sign below is actually supposed to symbolize a green wave.
In plain language, this means: if the driver follows the recommendation, he can count on a green passage at the upcoming traffic lights.
So a green wave.
In this way, drivers can avoid the red phase and stopping.
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The green wave in the past: Traffic signs like this leave little room for your own interpretations.
© Sascha Steinach/imago
Advantage of the digital sign: It can be switched on and off as required.
Because if stopping at the next traffic light is unavoidable due to the circuit, the traffic sign shows nothing.
Digitization of road traffic: Older version was clearer
However, the traffic sign is not entirely new.
An older version of the information sign leaves less room for interpretation than its digital successor.
On a white background, it indicates that it is easy to drive through traffic lights at a certain speed.
Rubric list image: © Radosław Drożdżewski (Zwiadowca21)/Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
