Confused drivers: 16 signs in Wesertal incorrectly labeled!

Confused drivers: 16 signs in Wesertal incorrectly labeled!

In the municipality of Wesertal, a small but amusing incident occurred, which keeps both drivers and the community representatives busy. A total of 16 detour signs were miscited and suddenly referred to "Gieselwerda" instead of the correct place "Gieselwerder". This confusion was created due to the necessary construction work on Deckenstraße in Lippoldsberg, which required a detour. As reported by the HNA, Hessen was responsible for the construction work and the signage.

The signs were installed on Thursday evening, and the error was already noticed on Friday morning during a check by Hessen Mobil. The municipality's first deputy, Karl-Heinz Kempe, found that the mistake was not too serious, since many drivers use navigation devices today. Despite the incorrect signs, Hessen Mobil decided not to correct them immediately because they would only be in operation for a week.

confusion of signs and their reasons

Particularly paying attention to the terms "-werder" and "-werda", which come from the old and Middle High German word for river island. In Hesse and Lower Saxony, the form "-werder" is common, while the spelling "-werda" can be found in Saxony. These linguistic differences could increase the amazement of the wrong signs.

The importance of traffic signs cannot be assessed high enough. They are crucial to avoid traffic accidents and to ensure smooth traffic. According to the Herfurtner law firm, traffic signs are subject to strict requirements from the German Road Traffic Regulations (StVO). This regulates both the arrangement and the design of traffic signs in paragraph 39 to 43

The legal aspects

Another interesting aspect is the legal dimension that goes hand in hand. A judgment of the BGH of January 11, 2024 shows that claims in connection with traffic signs fall into the responsibility of the road building authorities. The displays of traffic signs have no scope for their own decisions, since they act in the practice of a public office. The setting up of such signs is regarded as a sovereign activity and is bound to binding requirements.

In the case of the signpost in Wesertal, these legal framework can help clarify the responsibility for the incorrect information. Even if there have been problems with incorrectly labeled signs in the area of the community in the past, the current breakdown remains an example of the difficulties that can occur during signage. It is all the more important that traffic signs are not only correctly, but also clearly and clearly readable to ensure security on the streets.