This means the man with the red circle

A black man on a yellow background indicates around railway facilities: Danger here. What you should know about this sign.

You've probably seen it at a train station or in connection with other rail vehicles such as trams: a little black man standing with his arms outstretched on a round sign against a yellow background, framed by a red ring. Here's what it means.

The sign stands for: Passage or prohibited crossing. Areas behind this sign can be dangerous for you and others. Examples include passing trains whose drivers may not notice you, or the possibility that you could come into contact with traction current. This has a current of more than 1,000 amps and a voltage of 15,000 volts – that's about 65 times more than in a household socket.

For these reasons, only people with special authorization are allowed to stay in this area. If you enter a railway facility and are caught, you can be fined up to 5,000 euros. If your behavior also endangers railway operations, it is even a criminal offense that can result in a prison sentence.

Be careful with trains arriving and passing through:

The combination of a red train and a red edge may remind some of the warning phrase “Be careful at the edge of the platform!” In fact, it is risky to stand too close to the tracks. Firstly, there is a risk of falling, you may trip or be pushed – in the worst case, you may fall onto the track bed. Secondly, trains arriving or passing by create a current of air that can pull you towards the train. Therefore, you should make sure you keep a sufficient distance. Hatched lines or grooved stones usually indicate how far away you should best be.

Danger to life from electric shock:

High voltage flows through the overhead lines and in the power rails (for example in subways and suburban trains). In rare cases, a so-called electric arc can form – then the current can reach you even over a distance of 1.5 meters without you even being able to touch the lines. Also, keep your distance if you see this sign.