Overview

• A new CHIP explainer distinguishes the obsolete VZ 353 square arrow from the still-valid circular VZ 209-30, noting that some VZ 353 boards remain despite a phase-out ordered in 2013 with an October 2022 deadline.
• VZ 209-30 is a mandatory direction sign that requires drivers to proceed only as indicated, with police able to levy fines of up to €35 for violations.
• BILD highlights 2020 StVO additions for cyclists and shared mobility, including the bicycle-only green turn arrow, the start of a bicycle zone with a 30 km/h cap and protection for cyclists, and the sign for high-speed cycle routes.
• New supplemental signs detail privileges such as HOV access in certain lanes, designated cargo bike parking, and marked carsharing bays supported by a windshield placard for identification.
• A separate CHIP piece stresses that pavement pictograms, such as traffic-calmed area or bicycle symbols, are not enforceable without the corresponding roadside sign, with mandatory use triggered only by blue requirement signs like 237, 240 or 241.