6 ms·

The traffic light: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0539102,13.7575856,3a,75y,71.03h,88.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scW7PqWjukB-tqiTFHHMidA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

The traffic light: https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0539102,13.7575856,3a,75y,71.03h,88.91t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scW7PqWjukB-tqiTFHHMidA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1 https://www.google.com/maps/@51.0539102,13.7575856,3a,75y,71...

prance 10y ago
That light is totally redundant. The white-on-blue right arrow as well as the solid line in the middle of the street already mandate that only right turning is allowed there.
- jve 10y ago
  Except when it's snowing.
- esra 10y ago
  You would need at least a stop sign, as the green arrow mandates you to stop.
  - zarq 10y ago
    I've seen cases where the 'stop' sign is just a red circle, and then it changes to a green arrow pointing to the right when you're free to go.
  - niklasrde 10y ago
    But a stop sign at an intersection with traffic lights is only to be used as a 'backup' for when the traffic lights fail, so it wouldn't be in force?
- Svip 10y ago
  Except you cannot have static signs from one direction, where the other directions have traffic signals. Someone else suggested a great programmer would have changed the rules, but that would have just made the rules more complicated. This solution is neat, because it keeps the basic rules simple while solving the problem. And to most people, they will never notice it is a problem.
  - ben_bai 10y ago
    Until an attacker comes and "parks" in front of the red light blocking all the traffic. There is no legal obligation to keep moving.
    - Freak_NL 10y ago
      The law tends to address this in various ways. I don't know how German law does it, but usually there is a fairly exact description of what stopping for a traffic signal entails (e.g., the driver has to be present in the vehicle). Also most jurisdictions have a catch-all law that prohibits dangerous behaviour in traffic. So yes, there probably is a legal obligation to keep moving. If you went there and stood in front of the light for an hour a friendly but stern police officer will — legally, and within his mandate — instruct you to move along.
    - techdragon 10y ago
      The charge is usually "public nuisance" or the local jurisdictional equivalent. In case anyone is unfamiliar with the concept of public nuisance as a crime. It's pretty simple, "things that cause significant enough trouble for other people". Its the common sense escape hatch option for law enforcement being unable to see any other crime.
      - majewsky 10y ago
        I would guess that it would be "Behinderung des Straßenverkehrs" (obstruction of traffic).
    - _jomo 10y ago
      They could solve this problem by turning it green every now and then, though.
    - vvillena 10y ago
      There is, though. General red with a specific green (the arrow pointing to the right) means you can stop, but once a car behind you wants to turn right, you need to turn right too in order to keep traffic flowing.
pennydreams 10y ago
I was just in Dresden over the summer and stayed at a hostel only 2 km from there! To think I got to witness such a feat of engineering... thanks so much for posting
awjr 10y ago
Google Maps still pleasantly surprises me. Their 3D view of the area is quite stunning to see in a browser. https://www.google.com/maps/@51.055998,13.7573524,222a,20y,180h,45t/data=!3m1!1e3 https://www.google.com/maps/@51.055998,13.7573524,222a,20y,1...
- icebraining 10y ago
  The new 3D view is amazing. I've wasted hours playing with it. Does anyone know if the implementation was ever explained?
  - kirse 10y ago
    I'm pretty sure they just took the Bing Maps "Bird's Eye view" concept and then applied their existing Google Earth 3D-mapping tech to it. Most of what was exclusively in Earth years ago has been slowly integrated into Maps.
    - icebraining 10y ago
      Well, fair enough, but then I'm interested in the Google Earth 3D-mapping tech :)
nevex 10y ago
Except that it isn't there anymore. It got removed last year: http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/ewiges-rot-an-dresdner-ampel-hat-ein-ende-genommen-14435741.html http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/ewiges-rot-an-dresdn...
- kerryritter 10y ago
  Wow, that moving IBM ad in the background is ridiculously annoying.

prance 10y ago

That light is totally redundant. The white-on-blue right arrow as well as the solid line in the middle of the street already mandate that only right turning is allowed there.

jve 10y ago
Except when it's snowing.
esra 10y ago
You would need at least a stop sign, as the green arrow mandates you to stop.
- zarq 10y ago
  I've seen cases where the 'stop' sign is just a red circle, and then it changes to a green arrow pointing to the right when you're free to go.
- niklasrde 10y ago
  But a stop sign at an intersection with traffic lights is only to be used as a 'backup' for when the traffic lights fail, so it wouldn't be in force?
Svip 10y ago
Except you cannot have static signs from one direction, where the other directions have traffic signals. Someone else suggested a great programmer would have changed the rules, but that would have just made the rules more complicated. This solution is neat, because it keeps the basic rules simple while solving the problem. And to most people, they will never notice it is a problem.
- ben_bai 10y ago
  Until an attacker comes and "parks" in front of the red light blocking all the traffic. There is no legal obligation to keep moving.
  - Freak_NL 10y ago
    The law tends to address this in various ways. I don't know how German law does it, but usually there is a fairly exact description of what stopping for a traffic signal entails (e.g., the driver has to be present in the vehicle). Also most jurisdictions have a catch-all law that prohibits dangerous behaviour in traffic. So yes, there probably is a legal obligation to keep moving. If you went there and stood in front of the light for an hour a friendly but stern police officer will — legally, and within his mandate — instruct you to move along.
  - techdragon 10y ago
    The charge is usually "public nuisance" or the local jurisdictional equivalent. In case anyone is unfamiliar with the concept of public nuisance as a crime. It's pretty simple, "things that cause significant enough trouble for other people". Its the common sense escape hatch option for law enforcement being unable to see any other crime.
    - majewsky 10y ago
      I would guess that it would be "Behinderung des Straßenverkehrs" (obstruction of traffic).
  - _jomo 10y ago
    They could solve this problem by turning it green every now and then, though.
  - vvillena 10y ago
    There is, though. General red with a specific green (the arrow pointing to the right) means you can stop, but once a car behind you wants to turn right, you need to turn right too in order to keep traffic flowing.

pennydreams 10y ago

I was just in Dresden over the summer and stayed at a hostel only 2 km from there! To think I got to witness such a feat of engineering... thanks so much for posting

awjr 10y ago

Google Maps still pleasantly surprises me. Their 3D view of the area is quite stunning to see in a browser. https://www.google.com/maps/@51.055998,13.7573524,222a,20y,180h,45t/data=!3m1!1e3 https://www.google.com/maps/@51.055998,13.7573524,222a,20y,1...

icebraining 10y ago
The new 3D view is amazing. I've wasted hours playing with it. Does anyone know if the implementation was ever explained?
- kirse 10y ago
  I'm pretty sure they just took the Bing Maps "Bird's Eye view" concept and then applied their existing Google Earth 3D-mapping tech to it. Most of what was exclusively in Earth years ago has been slowly integrated into Maps.
  - icebraining 10y ago
    Well, fair enough, but then I'm interested in the Google Earth 3D-mapping tech :)

nevex 10y ago

Except that it isn't there anymore. It got removed last year: http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/ewiges-rot-an-dresdner-ampel-hat-ein-ende-genommen-14435741.html http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/ewiges-rot-an-dresdn...

kerryritter 10y ago
Wow, that moving IBM ad in the background is ridiculously annoying.