Traffic signs, signals and road markings
The signs domain tests whether you can read the Hungarian sign system fast enough to act, and whether you know the hierarchy: an officer's signal beats a light, a light beats a sign, a sign beats a marking, and all of them beat the general rule.
The five families
- Warning (veszélyt jelző): red-bordered triangles on white - bends, uneven road, pedestrian crossing ahead.
- Prohibitory (tiltó): red-bordered circles - maximum speed, no overtaking, no entry.
- Mandatory (utasítást adó): blue circles with white symbols - keep right, compulsory direction, minimum speed.
- Priority (elsőbbség): the inverted triangle "Elsőbbségadás kötelező", the red octagon "ÁLLJ!", and the yellow diamond "Főútvonal" with its struck-through "Főútvonal vége" variant.
- Information (tájékoztató): blue squares and rectangles - places, services, motorway status.
Two lookalikes to master: a red circle with a number is a maximum speed, a blue circle with a white number is a minimum speed. The blue circle with three white arrows ("Körforgalom") tells you to give way to traffic already in the roundabout.
Markings and lights
Solid white lines (záróvonal) may not be crossed; broken lines may. A painted stop line shows where you stop at "ÁLLJ!". Yellow markings are temporary roadworks markings and override the white ones. A flashing yellow light means the signals are dead - signs and general rules apply.
Worked example
At roadworks the old white lane line is still visible, but yellow lines divert traffic to the left. You follow the yellow line even though it means crossing the white one, because temporary yellow markings take precedence. Reasoning: the hierarchy puts the current, temporary marking above the old permanent one.
Traps
- "Főútvonal" gives you priority at ordinary junctions but not automatically at a roundabout.
- An additional plate (kiegészítő tábla) can restrict a sign to certain times or vehicles - always read it.
- A sign covered by branches or a lorry still applies; ride so you can see it in time.