The limitation, which applies when capturing traffic signs in a conventional manner using a camera which is oriented to the front with respect to the vehicle, to capturing traffic signs that are located ahead in the driving direction and the unique association between traffic signs that apply only to one direction and the driving direction of the capturing vehicle are eliminated by way of a camera that is oriented to the rear with respect to the vehicle, for example a rear-view camera of the vehicle, also being operated during forward travel in order to also capture traffic signs that apply to the opposite direction and are located behind the vehicle at the time they are captured, and the position of said traffic signs, and by way of data sets generated therefrom being transmitted to the database together with the data sets generated by means of the front camera.