Germany Category D1 Theory Test cheat sheet

Reaction distance = speed × reaction time; at 50 km/h and 1 s reaction time this is about 15 m, before any braking begins.

Braking distance grows with the square of speed: doubling speed from 50 to 100 km/h quadruples the braking distance under equal deceleration.

Total stopping distance = reaction distance + braking distance; at 100 km/h with 1 s reaction time it is roughly 100 m on dry asphalt.

Safe following distance in metres ≈ half the speedometer value in km/h (the two-second rule); at 100 km/h that is about 50 m.

The motorcycle's single-track design means wet leaves, tram rails, painted markings and gravel reduce grip far more than for cars; braking must be upright and in a straight line.

A front-wheel skid on a motorcycle without ABS is countered by releasing the front brake lever; locked front wheels cause a fall within fractions of a second.

Danger zones are recognised early by the edge of the road: hidden driveways, parked rows, bus stops, school gates, junctions and crests each imply a specific hazard pattern.

Fatigue and alcohol are the dominant single-vehicle crash causes; microsleep after about 17 hours awake is comparable to a blood alcohol level near 0.05 %.

Countersteering initiates a lean: a brief push on the handlebar in the direction of the intended turn produces the lean angle needed for cornering.

The two-second rule applies in good conditions; in rain, at night or behind large vehicles it doubles to four seconds.

Overtaking is prohibited where visibility is insufficient, at pedestrian crossings (except for two-wheelers with small width), and where the overtaken vehicle must brake.

Minimum lateral clearance when overtaking: 1.5 m inside built-up areas, 2.0 m outside built-up areas.

Motorcycles must use dipped beam also during the day; a single headlight makes the approach speed of an oncoming bike easy to underestimate.

A horn or flashing headlights may only be used to warn of danger, not to express annoyance or to demand right of way.

At a pedestrian crossing, traffic must stop if a pedestrian shows the intention to cross; waiting in front of the crossing is prohibited.

When a bus with hazard lights pulls out from a stop, traffic must allow it to leave, and pedestrians near the bus must be given crossing priority.

On the motorway, the hard shoulder may only be used in an emergency; forming a rescue lane (Rettungsgasse) is mandatory as soon as traffic moves at walking pace.

Right before left applies only where no signs or signals regulate priority and the roads are of equal rank; it does not apply when leaving a field path or a property.

A 'Vorfahrt gewähren' (yield) sign obliges the driver to let all vehicles on the priority road pass, including those turning into it.

A 'Vorfahrtstraße' sign gives priority along the whole street until it is cancelled by an end-of-priority sign or a yield sign.

Turning left means yielding to oncoming traffic; turning right means yielding to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road being entered.

Leaving a property, a parking area, a pedestrian zone or a field path always requires yielding to all other traffic, including pedestrians.

At a T-junction without signs, the vehicle on the terminating road must yield to traffic on the through road.

A vehicle turning left across a priority road must wait even if the oncoming vehicle is turning right into the same road.

Trams have priority over other vehicles even where signs suggest otherwise, unless signals or a police officer direct traffic.

Priority of regulation: police officer > traffic light > traffic sign > general rules (right before left).

A police officer's raised arm means stop for all directions; a pointing arm directs traffic in that direction.

Amber alone means stop unless stopping would cause a dangerous abrupt stop; amber plus red means prepare to go.

A green arrow sign (Grünpfeil) at a red light allows right turns only after stopping, yielding to all other traffic including cyclists and pedestrians.

Flashing amber at a light means the signals are out of order; the signs and general rules apply as if the lights were absent.

Yellow flashing lights at a pedestrian crossing warn of the crossing; pedestrians still have priority once they step onto it.

Lane signals on motorways (green arrows, red crosses) override road markings; a red cross closes that lane.

Traffic signs lose their force when a police officer directs traffic differently; the officer's signals must be obeyed immediately.

Danger signs are triangular with a red border and white background; regulatory prohibition signs are round with a red border.

Round blue signs are mandatory instructions (e.g. 'Radweg', 'Mindestgeschwindigkeit'); rectangular blue signs give information.

A 'Stop' sign requires a full stop at the stop line even when the road is visibly clear.

The sign 'Ende aller Streckenverbote' cancels all speed and overtaking restrictions previously imposed on that stretch.

Directional arrows on the road and the 'Vorgeschriebene Fahrtrichtung' sign bind the driver to that direction at the junction.

Traffic light and sign installations are placed before the junction; a stop line is the reference point for stopping, not the sign itself.

Road markings: a continuous line prohibits crossing; a broken line may be crossed if it is safe; double broken lines mark a cycle lane boundary.

Temporary signs set up for roadworks take precedence over permanent signs and must be obeyed even if they contradict the usual rules.

Fuel consumption rises steeply with speed: driving at 130 km/h instead of 100 km/h increases consumption by roughly 20–25 %.

Cold engines consume significantly more fuel in the first kilometres; short trips under 5 km are the least efficient use of a vehicle.

Correct tyre pressure reduces rolling resistance; underinflation by 0.5 bar can raise consumption by several percent.

Unnecessary idling wastes fuel; switching the engine off during longer stops (over about 20 seconds) saves fuel.

Anticipatory riding with early throttle release and engine braking avoids unnecessary brake wear and saves fuel.

A roof box or trailer increases aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption noticeably, especially at higher speeds.

Two-stroke engines emit unburned oil and fuel; regular maintenance and correct mixture reduce hydrocarbon emissions.

Noise limits: excessive exhaust noise is an offence; tampering with the exhaust or removing the catalytic converter is prohibited.

Electric and hybrid vehicles recover energy through regenerative braking, reducing brake wear and consumption in city traffic.

Minimum tread depth for motorcycle tyres is 1.0 mm; for car tyres 1.6 mm; tyres must be replaced before reaching the limit.

Tyre pressure must be checked cold; the manufacturer's values for solo and pillion operation differ and must be respected.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic and must be replaced at the manufacturer's interval (typically every two years) to prevent boiling and brake failure.

A motorcycle's chain must be lubricated, correctly tensioned and free of tight spots; a loose chain can jump off the sprocket.

Lighting, brake lights, indicators and horn are safety-relevant and must be checked before each ride.

The steering head bearing must not have play; wheel bearings and suspension are checked for leaks and function at each service.

A vehicle may only be used on public roads if it is roadworthy; defects affecting safety must be repaired before further use.

The main inspection (Hauptuntersuchung) for motorcycles is due every two years; an expired sticker invalidates the roadworthiness presumption.

A pillion passenger requires a suitable seat, footrests and a helmet; the rider is responsible for the passenger's safety.

Children under 12 years and under 150 cm must use an approved child restraint; on a motorcycle this is generally not possible, so children may not be carried as pillion passengers under these limits.

Load must be secured against shifting, sliding and falling; it must not obstruct lights, mirrors or the registration plate.

Load may protrude up to 1.5 m beyond the rear and 3 m beyond the front of the vehicle, measured from the vehicle's centre.

The permitted total weight and axle loads stated in the vehicle documents must never be exceeded.

Passengers may only be carried in the number and manner approved for the vehicle; carrying a passenger on a solo seat is prohibited.

A helmet must be worn and fastened; an unfastened helmet offers no protection and is an offence.

Loads protruding more than 1 m beyond the vehicle's sides must be marked with a red flag or light in the dark.

Immediately secure the scene: hazard lights on, warning triangle placed at a suitable distance (about 100 m on motorways, 50 m on country roads).

In a breakdown, the vehicle should be moved onto the hard shoulder or as far to the right as possible; occupants leave on the side away from traffic.

On motorways, occupants should stand behind the guardrail and wear a high-visibility vest when leaving the vehicle.

First aid: check consciousness, breathing and circulation; call 112 and begin resuscitation if breathing has stopped.

The emergency call requires location, type of incident, number of injured and any special hazards.

After an accident with personal injury, the scene must be secured, first aid given and the police informed; leaving the scene is a criminal offence.

In a minor accident with only property damage, the parties exchange names, addresses, insurance details and registration numbers.

Warning triangle and high-visibility vest are mandatory equipment in motor vehicles in Germany; a first-aid kit is also required for cars.

A broken-down motorcycle should be pushed off the carriageway; if it cannot be moved, the rider should warn traffic and stand behind the guardrail.

The blood alcohol limit is 0.05 % for all drivers; for novice drivers in the probationary period and those under 21 it is 0.00 %.

Driving under the influence of drugs or with a blood alcohol level of 0.11 % or more is a criminal offence.

The probationary period (Probezeit) lasts two years; a serious offence or two minor offences lead to a warning or withdrawal of the licence.

The penalty catalogue (Punkte) in Flensburg records traffic offences; 8 points leads to licence withdrawal.

The driving licence must be carried and produced on request; driving without a valid licence is a criminal offence.

Insurance: third-party liability insurance is mandatory; the insurer pays the injured party but may reclaim from the driver in cases of gross negligence.

A vehicle must not be driven if the driver is unfit due to illness, fatigue or medication that impairs reaction.

Motorcycles require a licence class A1, A2 or A depending on engine power; the class is printed on the licence.