Cyclists overtaking prohibited: new sign shocks motorists

Created: 01/16/2022, 06:12

By: Marcus Efler

A hitherto unknown traffic sign appears in the first towns: No overtaking by cyclists or motorcyclists!

What sounds like harassment makes sense.

Stuttgart – Traffic laws can sometimes be pretty unfair.

The overtaking ban, for example: the fact that some apply only to trucks is still somewhat logical.

However, it is less understandable that the general ban on overtaking allows drivers to pass "single-track vehicles", i.e. motorcycles, but in the opposite case the biker faces a severe penalty including Flensburg points.

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Cyclists overtaking prohibited: new sign shocks motorists

In Stuttgart, among other places, drivers now have to get used to a new variant of the overtaking ban: there it is intended to prevent them from driving past cyclists or motorcyclists.

The corresponding sign, which is not yet very common, has recently been placed in a notorious spot on Böblinger Strasse, as reported by 24auto.de.

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Cyclists overtaking prohibited: 1.50 meter rule has been in effect for some time

The road there is too narrow for cars to overtake cyclists with the prescribed lateral distance of at least 1.50 meters.

The road traffic regulations have provided for this since spring 2020, but not all drivers comply with it.

"Since motorists misjudge the situation, the overtaking ban on bicycles and motorcycles is now being made clear with the new traffic sign," the city of Stuttgart said.

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A matter of getting used to: the new sign that prohibits cyclists and motorcyclists from overtaking.

(Iconic image) © Sebastian Gollnow/dpa

Overtaking cyclists prohibited: gain in comfort for motorists

Of course, it is not the first municipality with its decision: In other cities such as Frankfurt and Mainz, the authorities had already reacted to the legal situation some time ago with the corresponding new sign and, in principle, overtaking single-track vehicles with or without a motor in narrow places forbidden.

At such signposted places, drivers do not even have to consider whether a distance of 1.50 meters is possible - in this respect the new traffic sign is a gain in comfort for them.

However, it is also becoming more expensive: according to the current catalog of fines, overtaking with too little lateral distance previously cost 30 euros, but now at least 70 euros are due (in the event of danger significantly more) – and one point in Flensburg.