Traffic Signs 283 and 286: No-Stopping Signs per StVO

Introduction

Signs 283 and 286 are among the most important traffic signs in the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO). They regulate where stopping and parking are prohibited. This article explains both signs in detail, including all variants and supplementary signs.

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Sign 283: Absolute No-Stopping (Absolutes Halteverbot)

Appearance

• Round sign
• Blue background
• Red border
• Two crossed red diagonal bars (X shape)

Meaning per StVO (Anlage 2)

> "Stopping on the carriageway is prohibited." (Ge- oder Verbot: Das Halten auf der Fahrbahn ist verboten.)

This means: No stopping, no parking, no exceptions -- except traffic-related waiting (traffic lights, congestion).

Sign Numbers

• 283 -- Basic form (no arrow)
• 283-10 -- With arrow (start of zone), right side of road
• 283-20 -- With arrow (end of zone), right side of road
• 283-30 -- With arrow (middle of zone), right side of road
• 283-11, 283-21, 283-31 -- Left side of road (one-way streets)

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Sign 286: Restricted No-Stopping (Eingeschranktes Halteverbot)

Appearance

• Round sign
• Blue background
• Red border
• One red diagonal bar (top-left to bottom-right)

Meaning per StVO (Anlage 2)

> "A vehicle operator may not stop for longer than three minutes, except for getting in or out of the vehicle or for loading and unloading." (Wer ein Fahrzeug fuhrt, darf nicht langer als drei Minuten halten, ausgenommen zum Ein- oder Aussteigen oder zum Be- oder Entladen.)

This means:

• Stopping up to 3 minutes is allowed (if you stay with the vehicle)
• Getting in and out is allowed (even longer than 3 minutes)
• Loading and unloading is allowed (without undue delay)
• Parking is prohibited

Sign Numbers

• 286 -- Basic form (no arrow)
• 286-10 -- With arrow (start of zone), right side of road
• 286-20 -- With arrow (end of zone), right side of road
• 286-30 -- With arrow (middle of zone), right side of road
• 286-11, 286-21, 286-31 -- Left side of road (one-way streets)

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Arrow Variants

Both signs can include white arrows:

Arrow	Variant	Meaning
<- (toward carriageway)	-10 / -11	Start of no-stopping zone
-> (away from carriageway)	-20 / -21	End of no-stopping zone
<-> (both directions)	-30 / -31	Middle -- zone continues

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Supplementary Signs (Zusatzzeichen) for 283 and 286

Both traffic signs can have supplementary signs mounted below them:

Time Restrictions

• "8 - 18 h" -- applies only during daytime
• "Mo - Fr" -- applies only on weekdays

Shoulder

• "auf dem Seitenstreifen" (on the shoulder) -- applies only to the shoulder
• "auch auf dem Seitenstreifen" (also on the shoulder) -- applies to the shoulder as well

Exceptions

• "Bewohner mit Parkausweis Nr. ... frei" (residents with parking permit no. ... exempt)
• "Schwerbehinderte frei" (severely disabled exempt)
• "Elektrisch betriebene Fahrzeuge frei" (electric vehicles exempt)
• "Carsharing-Fahrzeuge frei" (carsharing vehicles exempt)

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StVO Legal Basis

Both signs are defined in Anlage 2 zur StVO (Annex 2 to the Road Traffic Regulations), Section 8: Stopping and Parking Prohibitions (Halt- und Parkverbote).

Section 41(1) StVO:

> "Anyone participating in traffic must comply with the orders and prohibitions indicated by regulatory signs (Vorschriftzeichen) according to Anlage 2."

Anlage 2, No. 62 (Sign 283):

Absolute no-stopping (Absolutes Haltverbot)

Anlage 2, No. 63 (Sign 286):

Restricted no-stopping (Eingeschranktes Haltverbot)

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Quick Comparison

Sign 283	Sign 286
Bars	2 (crossed)	1
Stopping	Prohibited	Up to 3 min allowed
Parking	Prohibited	Prohibited
Getting in/out	Prohibited	Allowed
Loading/unloading	Prohibited	Allowed

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Sources

• StVO Anlage 2 – Regulatory Signs (Vorschriftzeichen)
• StVO Section 41 – Regulatory Signs (Vorschriftzeichen)
• Traffic Sign Catalogue (VzKat)

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Image Sources (Public Domain)

Sign	Direct Link
283	SVG
286	SVG
283-10	SVG,_StVO_2017.svg)
283-20	SVG,_StVO_2017.svg)
283-30	SVG,_StVO_2017.svg)