logos999

Due to a recent event, I was wondering, if everybody here who`s going to drive in Europe knows the traffic regulations. In Germany, the tourist was approaching the intersction, the traffic lights were off (to save energy), but the yellow light was flashing. What do you do?

PalenQ

probably slow down and proceed with caution, same as in States.

I'd blame the German officials who tried to save a pittance of energy by turning off the light.

save energy? ever think of instituting the max 120-130 kmp speed limits on all autobahns.

penny-wise and pound-foolish?

hetismij

We turn traffic lights to flashing amber in the evenings too, not to save energy but because the traffic is so light it is sily to make people wait at a red light.
But it is a good point. How many people understand the give way to the right rule? In Holland you also give way to cyclists/tractors/horses from the right. Equally they should give way to you if you are on their right, though I have yet to see a cyclist do this.
I have also seen near accidents when foreigners (other Europeans) are turning across bike tracks and forget to look, and give way.

FauxSteMarie

The hardest thing for me is that the traffic lights are often located in a different place from in the US. It is very easy to run a red light and have an unwanted conversation with the police because you totally unintentionally ran a red light. These things often occur in the first day or two of driving. Then you get used to the way the things work.

logos999

Hint: not every direction will have lights flashing, some will be off, some flashing. I bet thatīs confusing!

tjenneke

Basic rule: If the other car comes from your righthand side, you stop, and let the other car pass. If if the other car comes from your lefthand side, you can continue, and the other car should stop.

Dukey

There are plenty of places right here in the US where traffic lights revert to flashing lights at certain times of the day or night.

It is, IMO, a bit difficult to intelligently comment on this "situation" when all we know is a tourist was approaching and a yellow light was flashing.

logos999

What information concerning priority at this intersection does this flashing light give you? What do you do next? (look for something?). I know it`s difficult,but there is an obvious solution and path of action.

SuzieCII

Here it means "proceed with caution".
It just seems logical to me.

ira

>...if the other car comes from your lefthand side, you can continue, and the other car should stop.<

And if it doesn't?

PalenQ

was the yellow flashing light the same on all four sides

in that case if two cars come to the intersection at the same time i'd say the old French priority on the right rules.

SuzieCII

The poor tourist! How horrible. (Second thoughts here)

logos999

same on all four sides
No, but how would he have known, canīt see all 4 lights at the same time.

PalenQ

you would know by the signs indicating which of the roads has priority - yellow triangles or something - the road with the priority has a thick black bar and the other road has a thinner black bar, indicating they yield to you - not sure of course.

But you are right anyone driving abroad should study the varying traffic signs and what they mean to avoid unnecessary tragedies like this - both for tourists and locals - like Suzie says my heart goes out to both

Bellini1

In this case the vehicle coming from the right has the right of way, but don't count on the driver coming from the left. HE or SHE might be a tourist. Also remember, at least in Germany, the pedestrian in a crosswalk, even without a "walk" light has the right of way and vehicles must stay stopped until the crosswalk is completely clear of pedestrians. This means you may not go even if the pedestrian has passed your car.

logos999

Well, flashing yellow means, you don`t have priority there. On the road with priority, the lights will be off. Next to the fashing yellow, you`ll see a traffic sign, that indicates the right of way when the traffic lights donīt operate. Only (quite rare) when there`s no sign priority will be from the right.

tjenneke

Ira, if the car doesn't stop, then it's an American tourist.

quokka

If the traffic light isn't working, check if there are any traffic signs attached to them ruling precedence or give way. Only if there are none, the right-before-left rule applies.

BTilke

"if the car doesn't stop, then it's an American tourist."

Really? Canadians, Mexicans and every other single country in the world has the same traffic rules as Germany?

JP

The problem with the yellow & black priority diamonds is that when you enter a city, they cancel priority and you're on your own. I hated trying to drive in Brussels because they take their priority from the right thing very seriously. You can be driving down a narrow street with very close to 0 visibility around corners and some guy will blow through from the right at high spped and you'd better not be in his way.