Germany Category T Theory Test cheat sheet

Reaction distance = speed (km/h) ÷ 10 × 3 metres; braking distance ≈ (speed ÷ 10)² metres; total stopping distance is the sum of both plus the distance covered during the brake's build-up.

On dry asphalt a passenger car decelerates at roughly 8 m/s²; on wet road about 5 m/s²; on snow or ice about 2 m/s² - braking distance scales inversely with deceleration.

The 2-second rule gives the minimum following gap; in rain double it, on ice extend it to roughly ten times the dry value.

A typical reaction time of 0.8–1.0 s already covers about 11–14 m at 50 km/h before the brake bites.

Danger zones: junctions, bends, crests, level crossings, bus stops, school gates, construction sites, and road narrowing (Engstelle) where two vehicles cannot pass.

Riding with the front wheel in the left third of the lane increases visibility in bends and keeps an escape line to the right shoulder.

On wet road, standing water above roughly 5 mm depth risks aquaplaning from about 80 km/h; ease off the throttle and avoid braking hard.

Wildlife crossings cluster at dawn and dusk near woodland edges; when one deer appears, expect more directly behind it.

StVO speed limits inside built-up areas: 50 km/h; outside built-up areas 100 km/h for cars and motorcycles, 80 km/h for trucks over 3.5 t and for tractors with trailers where the trailer is not approved for higher speed.

Minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm (legal) but 3 mm is recommended for wet grip; winter tyres are obligatory in snow, slush, ice, and frost (situative Winterreifenpflicht).

Overtaking is forbidden at level crossings, in unclear bends, on crests, where visibility is under 50 m, and where the road is narrowed.

The Rettungsgasse must be formed between the leftmost and the next lane as soon as traffic slows to walking pace; it applies on three-lane roads between the far-left lane and the middle lane.

A vehicle must not be left with the engine running; idling for longer than needed is an administrative offence (Ordnungswidrigkeit).

Warning triangle placement: 50 m on country roads, 100 m on motorways, and behind a bend or crest so it is visible before the hazard.

Lights: dipped headlights are compulsory in darkness, fog, rain, and snow; rear fog lamps only when visibility is under 50 m due to fog.

Alcohol limit is 0.5 ‰ BAC for drivers; 0.0 ‰ applies to novice drivers during the probation period (Probezeit) and to drivers under 21.

Right-before-left (rechts vor links) applies at junctions without signs or signals, including T-junctions where the terminating road joins the through road.

Sign 205 (Vorfahrt gewähren) and sign 206 (Stop) place the obligation on the driver facing them; sign 306 (Vorfahrtstraße) grants priority along the route.

Leaving a field, a farm track, a property, or a pedestrian zone onto a road always yields right of way - the priority rule does not apply there.

Turning left: oncoming traffic and pedestrians/cyclists going straight on have priority; the left turner must wait.

A vehicle turning into a road must let pedestrians crossing that road pass; turning vehicles also yield to cyclists continuing straight on a cycle path.

Police signals override traffic lights, which override signs, which override the rechts-vor-links rule - this hierarchy is fixed.

At a Stop sign the vehicle must actually stop at the stop line (Haltlinie) even when the road appears clear.

Buses leaving a marked stop and trams always have priority; a tractor pulling out of a field entrance does not.

Danger signs (triangular, red border) are placed 150–250 m before the hazard outside built-up areas and 50–150 m inside built-up areas.

Direction signs are rectangular; blue rectangles mark mandatory directions or special routes, yellow rectangles mark local destinations.

Round signs with red borders are prohibitions (e.g. 250 kg axle-load limit, 2 m width limit); round blue signs are mandatory instructions.

Sign 274 (speed limit) and 278 (end of limit) - the end of a limit is also implied at the next junction unless the sign is repeated.

The 30 km/h zone (Tempo-30-Zone) covers the entire residential area until the sign 274.2 (end of zone) appears.

Continuous white line = no crossing; broken line = crossing permitted if safe. A double broken line marks a cycle lane boundary.

Traffic light sequence: red → red+amber → green → amber → red; amber alone means stop unless stopping would be unsafe.

A flashing amber arrow (Grünpfeil) at a red light permits turning right only after stopping and giving way to all crossing traffic.

Fuel consumption rises roughly 30 % at 130 km/h versus 100 km/h due to air resistance, which grows with the square of speed.

Correct tyre pressure cuts rolling resistance: a 0.5 bar deficit typically adds 2–3 % fuel consumption and increases wear.

Remove roof racks and unused loads; 100 kg extra weight adds about 0.3 l/100 km in city traffic.

Engine idling wastes 0.5–1.0 l/h; switch off at stops expected to exceed 20 seconds (modern Start-Stopp does this automatically).

Low-viscosity engine oil and a clean air filter reduce consumption; a clogged filter can add 5 % or more.

Anticipatory driving (early throttle release, engine braking) saves fuel and reduces brake wear; the engine cut-off (Schubabschaltung) uses zero fuel while coasting in gear.

Diesel particulate filters require periodic regeneration; short-trip operation clogs them and raises emissions.

Agricultural tractors with diesel engines should use low-sulphur fuel and adhere to Stage V emission limits for new registrations.

A tractor's permissible total mass is the sum of its unladen mass plus payload; it must not exceed the value in the Zulassungsbescheinigung (Fahrzeugschein).

The rear three-point linkage (Dreipunkt) transfers implement weight onto the rear axle; too much lift reduces front-axle grip and steering.

Differential lock (Differentialsperre) must be engaged only at low speed and disengaged before turning on firm ground to avoid transmission wind-up.

Power take-off (Zapfwelle) speeds are standardised: 540 rpm at 540 engine rpm and 1000 rpm at 1000 engine rpm - match the implement's rating.

Hydraulic systems run at 180–200 bar; a leaking hose can inject fluid under the skin - never check for leaks with the hand.

Front-axle load must be at least 20 % of the tractor's total mass for safe steering; ballast weights adjust this.

Brake systems: single-line air brakes on older tractors require a pre-trip pressure check; a pressure drop over 0.5 bar/min indicates a leak.

A roll-over protection structure (Überrollbügel) and seat belt are mandatory; without them the tractor must not be operated.

Trailer speed limit: 25 km/h if the trailer is unbraked and over 750 kg; 80 km/h for braked trailers with a tempo-100 approval sticker and matching tractor.

The trailer's permissible total mass must not exceed the tractor's permissible trailer load; the drawbar load (Stützlast) counts toward the tractor's payload.

Lashing force: the total securing force must equal the load's weight times the acceleration factor (0.8 forward, 0.5 sideways, 0.5 rearward per VDI 2700).

Top-heavy loads need a centre of gravity as low as possible; a high CoG increases rollover risk in bends.

An unbraked trailer over 750 kg needs a safety breakaway cable; a braked trailer needs an overrun brake with a functioning breakaway brake.

Loads projecting more than 1 m beyond the rear must be marked with a red flag or panel by day and a red light by night.

The trailer coupling must be locked and secured with a pin; check the coupling visually before every trip.

Tyres on trailers age faster than on tractors; replace at 6 years regardless of tread, and check pressure cold.

Legal BAC limit: 0.5 ‰; 0.0 ‰ during Probezeit and for drivers under 21; from 1.1 ‰ the offence is a criminal one (Trunkenheit im Verkehr).

Medications with the red triangle (drowsiness warning) impair driving; combine with alcohol and the effect multiplies.

Minimum eyesight requirement for driving licence categories is 0.5 (both eyes) or 0.6 in one eye; regular eye tests are recommended every 2 years.

First aid: check responsiveness, call 112, then airway–breathing–circulation (ABC); start chest compressions at 100–120/min, 5–6 cm depth.

Recovery position (stabile Seitenlage) for an unconscious but breathing casualty; do not move a casualty with suspected spinal injury unless in danger.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a sterile dressing; a tourniquet is a last resort for limb bleeding that cannot be controlled.

Hypothermia and heat stroke both require gradual temperature correction; never give fluids to an unconscious casualty.

Tiredness causes microsleep; a 15–20 minute nap or a 20-minute coffee break restores alertness better than fresh air or loud music.