Intersection (traffic)
An intersection occurs when two or more traffic routes intersect . Crossing specifically means:
- Street crossing , the crossing of streets (if five or more paths meet at the same point, it is called a path spider );
- Crossing (railway) , the crossing of railway lines or tracks;
- Waterway junction, the junction of at least two waterways used for shipping.
An intersection structure ( overpass structure ) is generally the management of two intersecting traffic routes on different levels.
The crossing rights when several traffic routes come together are regulated in individual specialist laws ( FStrG , WaStrG and EKrG ).
Structural variants
A distinction must be made between level and free crossings, where both traffic routes are led under or on top of each other by an intersection structure and no mutual hindrance can occur. Furthermore, traffic routes of the same type can cross at the same level ( crossroads ) or at no height with a connection ( motorway junction ), which leads to a junction . If different modes of transport intersect , there is usually no transition.
Need for regulation at level crossings
In the case of intersections at the same level, the center of the intersection belongs to all intersecting traffic routes. If several vehicles want to drive through the intersection at the same time, especially with motorized traffic, this can lead to conflicts of interest. For this reason, level crossings are protected by general traffic rules , traffic signs ( pedestrian crossings ) or more complex safety systems ( level crossings ) , if required by the volume of traffic, speed or the type of traffic carrier crossing .
Traffic solutions for level-free intersections
In the case of high-level crossings, the traffic routes are guided by underpasses or overpasses on different levels, without any part of the crossing being used jointly. If two similar modes of transport cross, however, both routes can be connected with each other in order to enable the transition from one to the other ( junction , connecting curve ).
The advantage of the height-free crossing with the help of an intersection structure is that the road users on both routes cannot hinder or endanger each other.
Crossbreeds in culture
In popular belief, a crossroad is a place where the devil can be found in different manifestations . Devil's pacts concluded at crossroads found their way into popular culture, above all the alleged agreement of blues guitarist Robert Johnson , who is said to have paid for his devil-bought talent with an early death.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Robert Johnson ( Memento of the original from November 29, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
