Red traffic light: Then you can still drive - and then it gets expensive

Created: 03/25/2022, 06:07

By: Marcus Efler

Anyone caught running a red light will be fined.

And not too tight.

However, there are four exceptions - and some myths about them.

Here are the facts.

Berlin – This is about the traffic light.

No, not the three-party coalition of the federal government, but about the "light signal system" in road traffic.

It doesn't matter whether it's standing at a crossroads or junctions, controlling alternating traffic at construction sites or giving priority to pedestrians: Basically, the matter is clear.

If it lights up green, the journey is free.

If it is red, you have to stand in front of the stop line (strictly speaking, this also applies to the combination of red and yellow, which announces the green light).

Red traffic light: Then you can still drive - and then it gets expensive

In general, it gets a bit more complicated with yellow.

Actually, you should already stop when the traffic light jumps from green to the middle light.

But if you have to do a dangerous braking maneuver to do so, you can still scurry across the intersection.

A rubber rule that can usually be interpreted in your favor - especially since a violation is punished with a small warning and it doesn't rain any points in Flensburg.

Incidentally, this also applies if you come to a standstill just behind the stop line.

Red light means: stop!

However, there are exceptions.

(Iconic image) © Stefan Saue/dpa

It gets expensive when you drive through an intersection when the traffic light is clearly red.

Exactly how expensive depends on how long the red light has been on.

Speed ​​camera traffic lights measure this automatically - but even if police officers observe the violation, they refer to the time span in their testimony (although there are always disputes in court on this subject).

So if you step on the gas (or electricity) at a traffic light without a photo box when it says “bright red”, you are by no means on the safe side.

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Red light: if it takes more than five minutes

If the traffic light showed red for less than a second, the catalog of fines* stipulates a penalty of 90 euros and a point in the driving aptitude register.

In the case of intent or endangerment, or if there is even a crash, the penalty increases.

According to the Road Traffic Act (StVO), from one second it is a “qualified red light violation”.

Bingo: 200 euros, two points and a month's driving ban are the prize.

Here, too, the fine can increase in the event of danger or an accident – ​​up to 320 euros.

Always plus fees and expenses, of course.

However, there are also exceptions where you can even go completely unpunished.

That would be:

• Clear the lane

  because an emergency vehicle with a special signal ("Blue light and Tatütata") is approaching from behind.

  Then you can drive carefully over the stop line in the direction of the roadside.

  Don't worry if there's a flash: photo traffic lights usually have a second camera at the end of the intersection, which determines whether you've really crossed the entire lane or stopped straight away.

  In addition, the police, fire brigade or ambulance is also documented by photo.

• The green arrow

  * (as is also common in the USA) gives access to those turning right.

  But be careful: Unlike the green light signal in the form of an arrow, you do not have priority, you have to stop and wait for crossing vehicles or pedestrians.

  Anyone who ignores this risks a fine of 70 euros and a point.

  Anyone who honks in the second row to wake up someone who is dreaming (or phoning) in front of the green arrow turning right is also liable to prosecution.

• The traffic light is not and will not be green:

  "Error permanent red" is definitely an argument to feel your way carefully across the intersection.

  How long you have to wait is not clearly regulated, but according to relevant court decisions you are usually on the safe side after five minutes.

• Driving in convoy:

  A closed convoy of vehicles counts as a single vehicle that may also cross an intersection in one go.

  However, this regulation should be left to the professionals, for example in a Bundeswehr convoy*, who mark their vehicles accordingly.

  Note: A wedding party does not count as a vehicle convoy, floral decorations are not a convoy identification, and loud horns are not a special signal.

Incidentally, the situation is somewhat complicated for those who are still standing at the intersection when the traffic light turns red.

In principle, he is allowed to continue driving to clear the intersection – but not if he has to stop shortly after the stop line.

Then he has to wait for the next green phase.