Theory topic 5 · Düsseldorf
Topic 5: The basic rule, priority & traffic control
At every junction, one question decides everything: who goes first? In Topic 5 you learn the order in which the priority rules apply, from priority to the right, through priority signs, to a police officer directing traffic by hand. Once you understand how it fits together, you'll know what to do at any junction in Germany.
- In class
- 90 minutes, as often as you like
- This is topic 5 of 14. You can come to this double lesson as many times as you like.
- Flexible times
- 8 theory classes a week
- Lessons run on six days a week. The 14 topics follow on from each other in a loop, so you simply join at the next lesson.
- Four languages
- German, English, Arabic, Berber
- Lessons are taught in German. If something isn't clear, you can ask in English, Arabic or Berber.
What you learn
What topic 5 covers
This is what's on the plan in the lesson, and it's what the theory test (Theorieprüfung) will ask you about.
- The order the rules apply in: police before traffic lights, traffic lights before signs, signs before priority to the right
- What each priority sign means (205, 206, 301, 306, 307, 308)
- When priority to the right applies and when it doesn't
- What to do at a junction where no road has priority
- What police hand signals mean: if the officer faces you or has their back to you, you stop, and if they're side-on to you, you can go
- How trams and trains fit into the priority rules
- Which special rules apply in traffic-calmed areas, on roundabouts and in one-way streets
The key rules
What you need to know for sure
A lot of the test questions on this topic come back to these points.
The order of traffic control
The rules apply in this order: 1) a police officer giving hand signals, 2) traffic lights, 3) priority signs, 4) priority to the right. The higher one always wins. If the traffic lights are off, the priority signs apply automatically, or priority to the right if there aren't any.
Priority to the right
At any crossroads or junction where nothing else is signed, traffic coming from your right has priority. This is the German rule known as Rechts vor Links. Trams follow the same rule as other vehicles here. Emergency vehicles with blue lights and sirens have priority whatever the situation.
You always stop at a stop sign
Sign 206 means you have to stop, even if nothing is coming. You come to a complete stop, check that the road is clear and only then pull out. A 'rolling stop' costs €10, or €70 and 1 point if you put someone in danger.
The police overrule traffic lights
If a police officer is facing you or has their back to you, that means stop. If they're standing side-on to you, you can go. If the officer raises one arm (§ 36 StVO), everyone who hasn't reached the junction yet waits in front of it for the next signal, and anyone already in the junction clears it quickly. A police officer's signals overrule any traffic light.
Trams at junctions
At junctions, trams normally follow the usual priority rules, which means traffic lights, priority signs or priority to the right. But when you turn, you have to let a tram go first, even if it's travelling in the same direction as you (§ 9 StVO). At a level crossing with a St Andrew's cross, trains and trams always have priority.
Common mistakes
Where the test often trips people up
In these places a question often means something different from what it seems to say when you read it quickly.
- Assuming trams always have priority
- At junctions, trams normally follow the same priority rules as other vehicles. You still often have to let them go first, for example when you're turning, or when you're driving beside the tracks in the same direction. At a St Andrew's cross they always have priority.
- Treating a stop sign like a give way sign
- At a give way sign (sign 205), you only have to stop if you need to. At a stop sign (206), you always have to stop, even if the road you're joining is empty.
- Reading police hand signals the wrong way
- If a police officer stands with arms stretched out to the sides and faces you, that means stop. You can only go when they're side-on to you. This comes up in the test a lot.
- Thinking a traffic light that's off means you can go
- If a traffic light isn't working, you follow the rule underneath it, which is the priority sign or priority to the right. Drive especially slowly and carefully.
Sample questions
What the questions in the theory test look like
Click on a question to see the answer. You can practise the full set of official questions with our learning app.
You come to a junction with no signs and no traffic lights. Who has priority?
A police officer is standing with their back to you and both arms stretched out to the sides. What does that mean?
You're approaching a stop sign. Do you have to stop even if you can't see any other vehicles?
In the driving lesson
Where you'll meet topic 5 again in the car
In your theory lessons and your driving lessons, you'll go through all kinds of priority situations, from junctions with trams to residential streets where priority to the right applies. That way the order of the rules sticks.
Questions and answers
Common questions about topic 5
Short answers to questions around this topic.
Does priority to the right apply in car parks?
What about one-way streets?
Who has priority at a T-junction with no signs?
What should I do if it isn't clear who has priority?
What happens if I ignore someone's priority and cause a crash?
Registration
Come along to the theory lessons
Pre-register online, with no obligation. Once your registration has gone through, you join at the next lesson, whichever topic is on that day.
Or just drop by
- Phone
- 0211 21098911
- Mon–Fri
- 10:30–19:00
- Sat
- 10:00–15:00
- Sun
- Closed
Read on
Related topics and pages
- Topic 4: Roads & level crossingsHow roads, special lanes and level crossings are laid out.
- Topic 6: Traffic signs & markingsWarning signs, regulatory signs and information signs, and how to tell them apart.
- Topic 9: Observation & manoeuvresMirrors and shoulder checks, overtaking, changing lanes, turning round and reversing.
- Class BThe car licence.
- Class B197Learn in an automatic, drive a manual too.
- Pre-registrationSign up online, with no obligation.
