Green arrow
The green arrow is according to the German road traffic regulations according to § 37 para. 2 no. 1 set of 8 to 10 StVO a non-luminous addition to traffic signals , by which shortens the waiting time for the right turn in certain traffic situations. It is represented by an arrow pointing to the right on an additional sign to the right of the red light of the traffic light (sign 720).
It allows all vehicles the right turn in spite of red traffic light at a traffic light when they have been stopped at the stop line and when a disability or risk to other road users, especially the pedestrian and vehicle traffic to the shared traffic direction, is excluded . There is no obligation to use the green arrow's permission. In contrast to glowing green light, waiting in front of a red light with a green arrow is not a traffic obstruction within the meaning of the StVO, even if it is a pure right-turn lane.
Turning right with the green arrow without stopping at the stop line is assigned a point in the register of fitness to drive and a fine of 70 euros; if other road users are hindered or endangered, the fine increases to up to 150 euros. 77% of drivers disregard the duty to stop.
Some other countries have similar regulations as Germany. In France, the Netherlands and, since February 2019, as a pilot test in some cities in Germany, there are also bicycle-specific green arrow regulations (see turn right free for cyclists ).
Colloquially, the green arrow is often referred to as the green arrow , which differs from the road traffic regulations . The green arrow according to § 37 Abs. 2 Nr. 1 Satz 3 StVO is in the disk of the green traffic light and says: "Traffic is only released in the direction of the arrow."
history
In the German Democratic Republic , the green arrow, here called the green arrow , was introduced as early as 1978, but without any obligation to stop. Before that, turning right at red was generally permitted in the GDR (as it is today in the USA, see below). After reunification, however, the signs could not be dismantled in time for December 31, 1990, when the GDR's road traffic regulations were to expire, so that, with an exception regulation of December 11, 1990, they were extended for a maximum of one year . Due to the great resistance in the population, the regulation was extended from December 20, 1991 to December 31, 1996 with a further exception regulation for the new federal states.
In addition, a study was carried out by the Federal Highway Research Institute in 1992 which came to the conclusion that accidents at intersections with green arrow control are no more frequent or more severe than with conventional traffic lights. Up to 1998 there were four further studies by the BASt which came to similar results. Blind associations in particular had spoken out vehemently against the introduction of the green arrow regulation. On March 1, 1994, the green arrow became part of the German road traffic regulations . The first official green arrow in the west was unveiled on the deadline in the Berlin district of Reinickendorf .
Since then, the green arrow has also been used at intersections in the old federal states . In 1999 there were 300 green arrow boards in West German cities, whereas there were almost 2,500 green arrows in the area of the former GDR. For 2002, around 5,000 green arrows were estimated in Germany, 48% of them in the old federal states.
Due to the dangerous situation at intersections regulated by green arrows, the areas of application of the green arrow have been restricted more and more in the administrative regulation for road traffic regulations. In some western German cities (e.g. Bielefeld, Elmshorn, Krefeld and Wiesbaden) the green arrows that were initially attached have been unscrewed. Between 2002 and 2006, 362 green arrows were initially installed in Hamburg, but after they had been dismantled at numerous intersections, only 191 remained in 2014.
The green arrow is also struggling to spread in the home country. In 2018, the television magazine Umschau researched the development of the green arrow in major German cities. Compared to the number determined by the Federal Highway Research Institute for 2003 , there were mainly decreases:
- - 37%: Magdeburg
- - 34%: Leipzig
- - 34%: Chemnitz
- - 11%: hall
- - 6%: Dresden
- 0%: Jena
- + 24%: Erfurt
A spokeswoman for the Leipzig Road and Civil Engineering Office stated:
“Unfortunately, our observations have shown that the behavior of road users at the green arrows does not always comply with the road traffic regulations. As soon as the accident situation is conspicuous or even an accident, we remove the green arrow. "
In 1999 a project group “Green Arrow” was set up at the Federal Highway Research Institute to develop exclusion and weighing criteria. The green arrow is a traffic regulation that is discussed emotionally. The recommendations of the project group were not all taken over in the amendment of the administrative regulation for the road traffic regulations.
The guidelines for traffic light systems have been published by the Research Association for Roads and Transport . Further exclusion and weighing criteria are also formulated here.
A specialist article on the Green Arrow closes with the insight:
"The green arrow has a potential hazard that should not be underestimated and may therefore only be used in strict compliance with the instructions in the administrative regulations for the Road Traffic Act and the green arrow report of the 'Green arrow' project group."
The behavior at the green arrow is regulated in Section 37 (2) StVO alternating light signals, permanent light signals and green arrows: After stopping, turning to the right is also permitted in red if a sign with a green arrow on a black background (green arrow) is attached to the right of the red light signal is. The driver of the vehicle may only turn from the right-hand lane. He must behave in such a way that there is no obstruction or danger to other road users, especially pedestrians and vehicles in the direction of traffic allowed.
The general administrative regulation for the road traffic regulations stipulates numerous restrictions for the areas of application of the green arrow:
The use of the sign with a green arrow on a black background (green arrow) is only possible if the person turning right can see pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the approved traffic directions sufficiently to fulfill the duties of care imposed on him. It must not be used if
- A conflict-free turn to the left is signaled to oncoming traffic. Conflict-free turning to the left is signaled, for example, if a light with a green arrow is attached to the left behind the intersection or a green arrow is used in the traffic light .
- Arrows in the traffic lights that are valid for the right turn dictate the direction of travel.
- When turning right, rails of rail vehicles have to be crossed or driven on.
- the released bicycle traffic on the cycle path to be crossed is permitted in both directions or despite the prohibition, bicycle traffic in the opposite direction takes place to a considerable extent and cannot be sufficiently restricted by suitable measures.
- several marked lanes are available for turning right or
- the traffic lights are mainly used to secure the way to school .
- The green arrow rule should not be applied at intersections and junctions that are often crossed by visually impaired or walking disabled people. If it is exceptionally necessary at intersections or junctions that are often crossed by the blind or visually impaired, traffic lights are to be equipped with acoustic or other suitable additional devices.
Since hybrids are quite dangerous with green arrow regulation is to nodes driveways with green arrow the accident regularly at least on the basis of accident cards evaluate. In the event of an accumulation of accidents in which the green arrow was a factor that favored the accident, the green arrow must be removed unless improvements in traffic technology are possible. As a rule, there is an accumulation of accidents if two or more accidents with personal injury, three accidents with serious or five accidents with minor traffic offenses have occurred over a period of three years.
Further exclusion and weighing criteria
The 2003 partial update of the guidelines for traffic light systems has been published by the Research Association for Roads and Transport . This partial update was introduced by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing in a letter dated March 12, 2004 for the area of federal highways. The introduction has been recommended for the area of the other streets.
In the 2003 partial update, further exclusion and weighing criteria were formulated:
- The prerequisite for the green arrow regulation is that the "green arrow users" have sufficient visibility of the approved traffic direction.
- If the cycle path ford is separated, this ford is often blocked. This is similar to intersections and junctions with traffic signs that regulate the right of way. Then either another cycle route layout is to be chosen or the green arrow rule is to be dispensed with.
- The green arrow should not be used if the approved cycle traffic is signaled separately.
- The green arrow should also not be used if there are parking spaces for cyclists in the intersection area, which drivers then drive over when using the “green arrow”.
- Because of the high speeds, the green arrow should not be used outside built-up areas.
The use of the green arrow must be carefully checked under the following conditions:
- When the “green arrow turn” is overwhelmed by the many lanes and connections.
- When long vehicles often turn according to the green arrow rule and block the pedestrian ford (see illustration).
- When trucks turning right sweep over the traffic area of traffic coming from the right because of the node geometry.
- If you regularly turn around from the direction of travel coming from the right.
Traffic safety
On behalf of the accident research of the insurers , the Technical University of Dresden examined the effects of the green arrow on the safety at intersections and junctions and the driveways marked with the green arrow. From a survey, it was possible to derive information on practical application, behavioral observations provided information on the use and acceptance of road users, and travel time measurements provided information on time and fuel consumption.
- The accident analysis of 200 junction arms with a green arrow shows that by far the highest proportions of non-motorized people involved in accidents occur in these approaches. The investigation was able to show local accident clusters, but no fundamental statistical abnormality was proven.
- The survey of 75 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants showed that the defined exclusion criteria of the administrative regulation for road traffic regulations to §37 are often not fully complied with and that this is often at the expense of the protection of vulnerable road users. However, if green arrows are attached, the cities regularly check the accident situation.
- The behavioral observations confirm that the green arrow regulation is gladly accepted by motorists, but that the obligation to stop is mostly not met. Blockages lead to an increased risk potential for pedestrian or bicycle roads.
- No or only a very marginal benefit for the driver and the environment can be derived from the travel time measurements.
Other countries
North America
In almost all states of the USA (with the exception of New York City) and in all provinces of Canada (with the exception of Île de Montréal ) turning right at red traffic lights is generally permitted. At some intersections, however, a sign saying “NO TURN ON RED”, which is the opposite of the green arrow, prohibits turning. In New York (here turning on red is generally prohibited) there is a regulation comparable to Germany (sign: Turn on red permitted ).
South America
In Chile and Colombia a regulation comparable to the German legal situation applies.
Asia and Australia
The same rules apply in China as in the USA, i. H. Turning red is generally allowed (also in large cities like Shanghai or Beijing). A ban can be issued by means of a red right-turn traffic light at individual intersections. Singapore and Thailand have similar regulations as Germany.
Australia (left-hand traffic) only allows turning with an additional sign, comparable to Germany.
Europe
The possibility of turning right (or left in countries with left-hand traffic ) despite the red traffic light, as in Germany, exists in a similar form in France, Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Ukraine. In Austria, the green arrow (on a white background) was introduced with effect from April 1, 2019. The regulation excludes vehicles with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 7.5 tonnes or more. In Lithuania, the German rule was adopted exactly. It is also used in accordance with German guidelines. In October 2014, however, it was decided to abolish it as of January 1, 2020.
literature
- U. Schrobitz, K. Krause, W. Schnabel: Investigation of the advantages and disadvantages of turning right with the color symbol “red” through the regulation “green arrow”. Federal Highway Research Institute, Bergisch Gladbach 1992.
- Project group "Green arrow": turn right at red with green arrow. Federal Highway Research Institute - Booklet V 72.Bergisch Gladbach 1999, DNB 959026290 .
- Research Society for Roads and Transportation - FGSV: Guidelines for traffic light systems (RiLSA). Partial update 2003. Cologne 2003.
- Arndt Lagemann, Hartmut Topp : The Green Arrow - Traffic Accelerator or Green Danger? In: Road traffic technology. Issue 07/2003.
- Peter Struben: The Green Arrow: Potential for conflict and accident at traffic lights with a green arrow. 3rd, corrected and updated edition. Berlin 2006, ISBN 3-922504-43-4 .
- Peter Struben: What can you do about the green arrow?
- Arndt Schwab: The Green Arrow. OH films with explanations; Ed .: Fachverband Fußverkehr FUSS eV; Berlin 2004. (Lecture manuscript and 18 colored overhead transparencies)
- Arndt Schwab, Ekkehard Westphal: The green arrow. In: footnote. 7, ed. by SRL and FUSS eV, December 2005.
Web links
- Research Society for Roads and Transportation - FGSV
- Road Traffic Regulations (StVO)
- General administrative regulation for road traffic regulations , with annex (catalog of traffic signs (VzKat))
- Part 6 of the VzKat
- Critical consideration of the possible dangers to road users from green arrows (PDF; 593 kB)
- Research on the safety of green arrows - UDV
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://www.bussgeld-info.de/bussgeldkatalog-gruener-pfeil/
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20100921131707/http://www.stmi.bayern.de/sicherheit/verkehrsicherheit/sicherheit/detail/08522/#anchor_0_71
- ↑ Alternating and permanent light signals in the points catalog of the Federal Motor Transport Authority . Retrieved April 29, 2015.
- ↑ Accident research by insurers (ed.): Rule violations in road traffic. ( Memento of March 23, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Research report VV 05, June 2011, ISBN 978-3-939163-38-1 , p. 31 (PDF, 2.8 MB).
- ↑ Hunger: pilot test "Green Arrow for Cyclists" in nine German cities. January 8, 2019, accessed April 5, 2019 .
- ↑ https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/vermischtes/test-gruener-pfeil-radfahrer-leipzig-100.html
- ↑ Ordinance on the temporary further use of the green arrow sign on traffic lights . From December 20, 1991. In: Bundesgesetzblatt 68, Part 1, Bonn, December 31, 1991, p. 2391.
- ↑ The Green Arrow in the Second Spring In: Berliner Zeitung of March 2, 1994, accessed on March 2, 2014
- ^ Daniel Herder: Hamburg is dismantling green arrows on traffic lights , Hamburger Abendblatt Online from March 3, 2014
- ↑ Discontinued model Green Arrow? , mdr review from January 15, 2019, video 7:38 min
- ↑ General administrative regulation for road traffic regulations (VwV-StVO). Retrieved April 3, 2020 .
- ↑ Accident research of insurers (ed.): Safety of nodes with Grünpfeil Accident Research compact No. 50, February 2015.
- ↑ Ukrainian traffic regulations ( Правила дорожнього руху ) Section 8.7.3 e)
- ↑ § 54 Paragraph 5 lit. n of the 1960 Road Traffic Act according to section 8 of the amendment of March 6, 2019 ( Federal Law Gazette I No. 18/2019 )
- ↑ See Antanas Klibavicius, Lina Jukneviciute-Zilinskiene: Investigation of crossroads regulated by traffic-lights with an attachable arrow in terms of road accident rate and perviousness ( Memento of the original from August 11, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. (PDF; 103 kB). In: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (ed.): Environmental Engineering The 8th International Conference May 19–20, 2011, Vilnius, Lithuania, Selected papers. Vilnius 2011, ISBN 978-9955-28-827-5 , p. 1103.
- ^ Amendment of the Lithuanian Road Traffic Act of October 3, 2014 (lit.)
