Direction of travel
Direction of travel generally refers to the direction in which a vehicle is moving or is intended to move . The term is used in different contexts .
vehicles
Technical definition
In the case of driven and towed vehicles, the direction of travel denotes the direction in which it preferably moves, as provided by the design.
The term “direction of travel” in this sense is mainly used for formal purposes, for example to describe the arrangement of components or equipment within a vehicle, e.g. B. "across the direction of travel", "in the direction of travel" or "against the direction of travel".
A technically possible reversing or sideways movements when cornering are not defined as a "direction of travel" in this formal definition, except for vehicles that do not have a preferred direction during regular use, but can drive in two directions with the same effectiveness. These include railcars with two cabs or railroad cars .
Directional signaling
For vehicles used in road and rail traffic, as well as aviation and shipping, there are binding regulations for the manner in which the direction of travel must be recognizable in the dark or in poor visibility.
Vehicles in operation must be equipped with dipped headlights , parking lights and rear lights in accordance with the road traffic regulations ( § 17 StVO - lighting) and the road traffic licensing regulations . Changes in direction of travel are also signaled with the direction indicator.
In rail transport which regulates Railway Construction and Operating Regulations , the railway signal regulations and the regulation on the construction and operation of the trams that with the three headlights and tail lamps to be used in the dark or when visibility is poor lighting, from the the direction of travel can be recognized by a viewer, at least in relation to the movement away from or towards him.
In shipping and aviation , according to the collision prevention rules and the Aviation Ordinance (LuftVO), position lights must be guided in the dark , from which the direction of travel for an observer both in relation to the movement away from him or towards him and also the direction can be seen across him.
Movement relative to the environment
Direction of travel describes the direction in which vehicles are moving in relation to their surroundings. The direction of travel can be described in relation to an individual viewing point ( observer ) with general directional information such as "left / right", "forwards, sideways" or according to cardinal points (north, south) or an indication of a destination ("to the tree") .
Traffic control, prescribed driving directions
Direction of travel in the case of tracks , streets or lanes of a street, as well as in waterways and airways , refers to the direction of movement in which they are in accordance with the legal regulations (see left-hand traffic , rail traffic rules ) or current instructions (through traffic signs , traffic signals or instructions from authorized persons such as pilots , Air traffic controllers , dispatchers , police ) may be driven on with vehicles.