As of: February 16, 2024, 7:05 p.m
By: Christoph Gschoßmann
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As a driver you are familiar with many traffic signs.
However, a Reddit user discovered something that is confusing him.
Munich – Germany and its traffic signs: The Federal Republic is notorious for the abundance of signs in traffic.
You can sometimes lose track of things, even as a German.
“K” over traffic lights: What does the road traffic sign mean?
On the social network Reddit, a road user while waiting for a green light saw a sign that was new to him and promptly took a photo of it.
He left those interested wondering what the rather inconspicuous “K” above the traffic light was all about.
Would you know?
Reddit users clarify: “K” symbol on the traffic lights is important for public transport
“What does this “K” mean?
I saw it turning on and off every now and then,” he describes his observations.
The users in the forum for topics relating to road traffic regulations promptly begin to share their expertise.
The unanimous opinion: The sign is not for private drivers, but for drivers of public transport vehicles.
One user simply describes the signal as a “requirement traffic light for public transport,” while another goes into more detail.
It is a “signal from the sphere of BOStrab”
(Ordinance on the Construction and Operation of Trams, editor)
.
However, it should not be a nationwide regulation, but rather a local tradition that only occurs in some cities in the Ruhr area such as Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Bottrop and Munich.
The specific meaning of the K is “contact established”, or more colloquially “green/driving command is coming”.
If it lights up, a bus or tram has registered at the traffic lights and will immediately be given free travel.
This is a “confirmation for drivers that the transmission worked.”
The resourceful user reveals even more: “If there is a stop there, doors should be closed and made ready (although there would be other signals for this such as “F” or dispatch signal A 1 (illuminated letter T like door)).
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Sign forest in Germany: Many regional differences in public transport symbols
Reddit users have thought of almost everything.
And anyone who remembers their driving license theory lessons and didn't notice anything about it shouldn't be surprised: for drivers, the signs are actually insignificant.
There are other signs for trams that are not mentioned on Reddit: vertical bars or green lights allow the tram driver to go straight, horizontal bars dictate waiting.
Diagonal lines allow you to turn in the appropriate direction; a glowing dot means that the driver has to wait for the next sign.
For the tram driver, a glowing triangle means something like “continue driving, but give way”.
Even more letters can be read in such situations in Germany: T (close doors) and Z (train dispatch) are also mentioned.
Users report what this type of signal looks like for them: In Ulm and Stuttgart, users write, there is an “A” (requirement) instead of the “K”.
In Berlin, someone else said, there is a box that is operated with a special key.
These users are also right, but there are dozens of other symbols that only apply regionally.
For example, only in Hesse is there a flashing S, only in Heidelberg is there a “WF” for turning.
The sign forest in Germany is just unfathomable!
There are many puzzles about traffic signs: two traffic signs are almost identical.
But there is a crucial difference.
There are also many questions about completely gray signs on the highway.
(cgsc)