The letter "A" on traffic lights in Germany is quite common. In driving schools, everyone is prepared for participation in road traffic. Unfortunately, in everyday life, some road signs still mislead many drivers.
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This may be because some signs have recently been introduced. For example, the bicycle lane sign or the car-sharing symbol. Some of them may be irrelevant, while others are essential to know.
The letter "A" on traffic lights in Germany should not concern car drivers much
Few drivers understand the information conveyed by this symbol.
The letter "A" on the traffic light is of greater interest to drivers of local public transport, such as buses and trams, as noted by Stefan Elle, an expert on automobiles from the KÜS expert organization.
The letter "A" signifies registration made by bus and train drivers when they need priority passage at intersections. This can be done either through GPS and automatic induction loop plates or through frequency reception.
The illuminated letter "A" is a confirmation signal indicating that the traffic light has recognized the bus or train, and the request has been acknowledged. Consequently, this means that the vehicle has priority.
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If a driver sees the letter "A," they can prepare for a longer red phase because public transport is approaching soon. The priority of other road users is reduced in such cases. Once the bus or another vehicle crosses the intersection, the letter "A" usually goes out again.
Stefan Elle explains that after this, traffic lights switch back to the standard program for private road traffic. If car drivers had to wait particularly long at the intersection, the time should be compensated with a longer green phase.
Such peculiar signs are often encountered on German roads.
In general, drivers don't lose much if they don't know their meanings. On the other hand, it's always nice to understand the significance of various symbols encountered on the road.
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If you come across the letter "A" near a traffic light, it serves as a priority signal for public transportation vehicles like buses or trams. This means that the vehicle has been acknowledged and has the right of way. Consequently, other road users may have to wait longer at the intersection to ensure safety.
