Last updated 31-8-2019, fixed links 9-3-2024

Contents

B numbers on signs

Introduction

B numbers are in principle signposted in yellow. Modern signs look like this:

The number used to appear separated fron the destinations (picture from 1990)

Several numbers at one location, one indicated as indirect reference:

An unusual way to indicate two multiplex numbers

Summary

Numbers are based on 2004 data points.

In 89.7 % of cases B numbers were found to be indicated.

Overview of federal states:

Like for B numbers on motorway signs we see that states in the former German Democratic Republic scores much better than those in the old Federal Republic. Also, in cities the numbers tend to be less indicated than elsewhere, which is also suggested by the low scores of the city states Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen.

Method

Data points and categories

One data point is the indication or absence of a B number coming from one direction. Random samples were taken of junctions B roads in all federal states in Germany. A large number of cases were categorised in the following ways:

1. Same or different number (2 possibilities)

 Going from highway X to another highway Y is distinguished from continuing on the same highway.

2. Continue straight or turn off (2)

3. Towards a road (section) with a single number or with several numbers (2)

4. Road sub classes (3)

5. Federal state (16)

As for signs on motorways, we distinguish between three sub classes:

• 1. The B numbers under 140 are the main highways introduced in 1934 (originally in 1932 but those were not signposted and many were changed in 1934).

  2. Numbers up to 330 were the less important roads introduced before World War II.

  3. Higher numbers appeared from the 1960s, only in West Germany, and in the former GDR they do not exist until today.

Since the states in the former German Democratic Republic including Berlin as well as Bremen only have classes 1 and 2, we potentially have 328 sub classes: 9 states with 3 classes and 7 states with 2 classes gives 41 combinations, and 8 cases for each of these. Not all cases exist though: for example there is only one class 2 road in Hamburg, and it only runs through the city on a short section without signs for straight on, so the categoryies which fall under 'same number straight on' do not exist for class 2 in Hamburg.

Rules

For this analysis no grace period is applied to road number changes. Other than that the rules defined on the rules page apply.

Note: Because similar numbers of samples were taken per federal state, including the cities Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg, there is a bias towards urban areas. Since these tend to have poorer results, the entire country in reality has a higher percentage of indicated B numbers.

Results

Germany

Berlin

Brandenburg

Baden-Württemberg

Bayern

Bremen

Hamburg

Hessen

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Nordrhein-Westfalen

Niedersachsen

Rheinland-Pfalz

Sachsen-Anhalt

Schleswig-Holstein

Saarland

Sachsen

Thüringen