The German traffic sign 365-51, known as 'Notrufsäule' or Emergency Telephone, is a crucial information sign found in Germany. While it doesn't impose a direct prohibition, it signals the availability of an emergency call point. Drivers should use this information proactively to plan their route, adjust their driving position, or decide on stopping behaviour if needed, always in conjunction with other traffic controls and road conditions.
This guide and information sign indicates an emergency telephone (Notrufsäule), crucial for your German driving theory test revision. Recognizing this sign helps you understand available safety resources and make informed decisions on German roads, ensuring you know where to seek assistance.
German road sign 365-51, officially designated "Notrufsäule", belongs to the guide and information signs group. It provides official information that supports orientation and safer decisions without usually creating a prohibition by itself. You may see it in route guidance, priority-road sections, motorway services, parking facilities, tourist destinations, diversions, and local information points, depending on how the road authority has arranged the location. The practical meaning is not just the symbol itself, but the driving decision it triggers: adjust speed, position, priority, route choice, stopping behaviour, or attention before the situation becomes urgent. For learners, the key skill is using the information early while still obeying mandatory signs and markings. Always combine the sign with road markings, traffic lights, police instructions, and any supplementary plates at the same location.
German road sign 365-51 means "Emergency telephone" and is officially listed as "Notrufsäule". In practice, it tells drivers to recognise the situation early, adapt before reaching the controlled area, and check whether markings or supplementary plates change how the rule applies.
Get clear, practical answers to the most common questions about the 365-51 - Emergency telephone road sign. Learn how the sign works, what rules it represents, and how it affects real driving situations. This FAQ strengthens your understanding and supports accurate decision making for the German driving theory exam in Germany.
Sign 365-51, the Emergency Telephone (Notrufsäule), is an information sign designed to alert drivers to the presence of an emergency call point. Its purpose is to help drivers orient themselves and make informed decisions regarding their route, position, or the need for a stop, especially in case of emergencies or to seek assistance.
No, the Emergency Telephone sign (365-51) itself does not require you to stop. It's an informational sign indicating a facility. You should only stop if you have an emergency, require assistance, or if other signs or road markings permit stopping in that specific location.
You'll often find the Emergency Telephone sign (365-51) along motorways (Autobahnen), major roads, at service areas, parking lots, or at points of interest where emergency communication access is important. Its placement aims to provide safety and convenience for drivers.
While all information signs provide guidance, sign 365-51 specifically points to an emergency communication resource. Unlike signs for parking or directions, this sign highlights a safety feature. Always remember that information signs like 365-51 don't override mandatory signs or priority rules; they supplement your awareness.
A common mistake is to assume the sign is a direction to a destination or a service without considering it's an emergency point. Learners might also forget that while it's an information sign, they must still adhere to any speed limits, lane markings, or priority rules applicable to the road. Planning route changes too late based on this sign is also a potential issue.
A clear reference image of the 365-51 - Emergency telephone road sign used in Germany.

The 365-51 - Emergency telephone road sign may also be known by these alternative names or terms.
The 365-51 - Emergency telephone road sign is part of the German Guide and Information Signs category, which groups together signs with similar rules and functions.
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German road sign 214-30, officially designated "Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung - rechts oder links", belongs to the regulatory signs group. It assigns a required direction, lane, route, or traffic area and must be followed from the point where the sign applies. You may see it in junctions, restricted streets, cycle and pedestrian facilities, parking areas, low-emission zones, and roads with binding lane or speed rules, depending on how the road authority has arranged the location. Any left reference should be read as part of the direction, road side, lane arrangement, or placement shown by the sign. Any right reference should be read as part of the direction, road side, lane arrangement, or placement shown by the sign. The practical meaning is not just the symbol itself, but the driving decision it triggers: adjust speed, position, priority, route choice, stopping behaviour, or attention before the situation becomes urgent. For learners, the key skill is knowing whether the sign commands, forbids, limits, or cancels a rule. Always combine the sign with road markings, traffic lights, police instructions, and any supplementary plates at the same location.
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Deepen your understanding of specific road sign categories or test your knowledge with practice questions. Explore our themed sign groups for targeted study or jump into quizzes to reinforce your recognition skills for the official German theory exam.
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