What are warning signs - meaning and differences
Red and white warning signs are used especially for marking vehicles that do not comply with the standard dimensions of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), i.e. that are over-wide, over-long or particularly heavy. There are also warning signs that make vehicles with special loads immediately recognisable visually, such as special transports (
TIR signs | , A signs for waste transports | , school bus signs | ) and the transport of hazardous goods (ADR plates | ). Here, attention is drawn to possible dangers in road traffic (e.g. schoolchildren getting off the bus) and dangerous loads (e.g. flammable liquids).
Types of red and white warning signs
The following section will focus in particular on the various designs and areas of application of red and white warning signs.
These include
- A | Parking warning signs
- B | Warning signs for vehicles with excess length and/or width
- C | Warning signs for agricultural and forestry vehicles
- D | Spain and Italy warning plates
A | Parking Warning Plates |
The red and white hatched warning signs are used as parking warning signs and are intended to indicate, for example, a trailer parked on the carriageway within a built-up area.
Parked vehicles and trailers with a total weight of more than 3.5 tonnes must be marked with red and white warning signs in built-up areas so that other road users are warned of the potential source of danger. The so-called parking warning signs must be attached to the front and rear of the vehicle or trailer. It is sufficient to display one parking warning sign in each direction.
The base of the square parking warning sign must be white reflective (DIN 67520).
In addition, the parking warning sign consists of red diagonal stripes, which must also be reflective (DIN 6171).
The diagonal stripes must be positioned so that they run outwards and downwards.
B | Warning signs for vehicles with excess length and/or width |
Furthermore, warning signs can indicate a vehicle with particularly large dimensions, as excess length or excess width must also be indicated by red and white warning signs.
The german regulations §22 and §32 StVZO as well as §29 VwV-StVO (General Administrative Regulation on Road Traffic Regulations) regulate which vehicles are included.
This also includes lorries in accordance with DIN 30710 and agricultural vehicles in accordance with DIN 11030 (Germany) or ECE 70 Class 5 (EU).
C | Warning signs for agricultural and forestry vehicles |
Extra-long or extra-wide vehicles and equipment are frequently used in agriculture and forestry. Marking with a red and white warning sign (DIN 11030) is also prescribed here. A red and white warning sign is used here to mark the overhang of the load or to identify attachments or trailed devices.
When installing the warning sign, the direction of the stripes must be observed. The stripes must always point outwards and downwards so that a red triangle can be seen in the upper, outward-facing corner of the warning sign. Fixed signs in accordance with DIN 11030 in Germany or ECE 70 Class 5 in the EU must be used for mounted equipment; alternatively, a self-adhesive film sheet in accordance with 
ECE 104 Class F is also permitted.
Red and white warning signs at the rear are part of the so-called „Bayernpaket“ (Bavaria package).
D | Spain and Italy warning plates |
In Spain and Italy, vehicles that are too long or too wide must also be marked with a red and white warning sign.
If you are travelling in Spain with an extra-wide or extra-long vehicle, you must display a warning sign at the rear end of the vehicle. This also applies if the vehicle has a load that protrudes to the rear. The load may protrude a maximum of 10% beyond the rear of the vehicle. If it is indivisible, the load may protrude by a maximum of 15%.
In Italy, however, every vehicle with an overhanging load or with an excess width/length must be labelled with a warning sign. This is also the case, for example, with caravans to which a bicycle carrier is attached.
In both countries, the red and white hatched warning sign must be 500 x 500 mm in size. However, as the signs must comply with different, country-specific standards, a warning sign must be obtained for each country. Combination signs are not permitted by law.
