Malfunctioning or, worse, non-functional traffic lights in Germany often cause inconvenience for drivers. In traffic, there are numerous rules and signs that participants must be aware of and adhere to.
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Even children in kindergarten are taught how to behave at traffic lights when they are red, yellow, or green. This is considered basic knowledge for drivers as well. What to do when the traffic light is not working.
Malfunctioning traffic lights in Germany: What every driver should know
If one or more traffic lights are not working, confusion can quickly arise.
In rare cases, a police officer may now be present at the intersection, controlling the right of way with specific gestures. In such a case, even if all the traffic lights are operational, it is essential to follow the instructions of the police.
Additionally, road signs are often located near or above the traffic light, indicating the right of way or requiring a stop. They come into effect as soon as the traffic light that needs to be crossed is off, and there is no police officer nearby.
Drivers encounter this situation relatively frequently, as in many places, traffic lights are turned off at night in areas with low traffic to save energy. If there is neither a police officer nor road signs at the intersection with a malfunctioning traffic light, the 'yield to the right' rule applies.
- Often, you can see flashing up-and-down orange signal lights on malfunctioning traffic lights. When traffic lights are off, usually only one direction is completely disabled. The road with the right of way is blocked.
- At the intersection, the street that should yield has flashing yellow lights. If drivers see this light, it means the traffic light is not functioning, and the right of way is absent.
However, caution is still advised. If the power goes out, and the traffic light doesn't illuminate, the orange light won't flash. It is always advisable to pay attention to the road sign next to it just in case.
By adhering to these rules, many unpleasant situations on the road can be avoided. Most of them arise for a simple reason – drivers' lack of knowledge of traffic rules.
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In such situations where traffic lights are not functioning, drivers should be mindful of the flashing yellow lights indicating the absence of a functioning traffic light and the right of way. It's crucial to remember that adherence to traffic rules can significantly reduce the occurrence of unpleasant road situations, often stemming from a lack of driver knowledge.
