There are round black and white traffic signs around the Holledau Autobahn triangle on the A9 and A93.
So far only in Bavaria.
Hardly anyone knows what they mean.
Munich – What do the round, black and white traffic signs mean, which can only be seen in southern Bavaria so far?
To be more precise, around the Holledau motorway triangle on the A9 and A93?
They are spaced 2.5 kilometers apart and stand out because they look very different from ordinary road signs.
Traffic sign in Bavaria: So far there are 13 signs on the A9 and A93
Although these so-called landmark signs have no meaning for the human driver, they are important for road traffic.
So far there are 13 of these signs on the A9 between Pfaffenhofen and the Holledau interchange and on the A93 in the direction of Regensburg up to the Wolnzach exit.
The round signs, around 70 centimeters wide, show a black and white structure made up of circles, quarter circles and triangles.
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Signs as signposts for self-driving cars
The reason for the signs is autonomous driving.
The automated vehicles have to know where they are, explains the federal Autobahn GmbH to
Merkur.de
.
This is the only way they can steer precisely over the road.
The special landmark signs on the digital Autobahn test field are an important reference point.
As fixed points, they pinpoint the exact location.
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There are round black and white traffic signs around the Holledau Autobahn triangle on the A9 and A93.
© Matthias Balk/ dpa
Automated vehicles should be able to independently determine their exact location with the help of these traffic signs together with a map and sensor.
Road signs have no meaning for drivers of ordinary cars.
According to the authority, the unusual shape and color were deliberately chosen.
So nobody can confuse them with the “correct” traffic signs.
A9 as a test route of the pilot project
The introduction of the new traffic signs is part of the pilot project "Digital Test Field Autobahn" (DTA).
The project, convened in September 2015, is intended to test modern systems and technologies in real traffic on the A9 in Bavaria.
The A9 is suitable due to its nature: hilly landscape, curves and changing lanes are ideal conditions for a test track.
Research on autonomous driving is currently being carried out at the TUM in Garching.
In 2024, a shuttle is scheduled to start around Munich's Bavariaring, and a self-driving taxi could then take Wiesn fans to the Oktoberfest.
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List of rubrics: © Matthias Balk/ dpa
