German traffic light has been red for 28 years

DRESDEN, Germany, June 16 (UPI) -- Officials in Dresden, Germany, said a traffic light that has been red for the past 28 years will remain red for the foreseeable future due to regulations.

The light, where Ziegelstrasse meets three other streets, has been red since 1987 and allows motorists to turn right after stopping, but any motorists hoping to go straight on to Gerokstrasse will almost definitely run out of fuel before they get a green light.

The traffic light has never lit up yellow or green, despite annual maintenance costs for the intersection including replacement green and yellow bulbs for the signal.

Dresden officials said the city's traffic light planning is based on directives from The Research Institute for Street Transportation.

"The administrative regulation as set out in section 37 paragraph 2 of the of the transportation regulations alludes to the need for an exact plan for traffic light signals," a city representative told The Local.

"Because the green light means 'transport is free to go' all the other lights in conflict to this one must show red. That also includes the light on Ziegelstrasse.

The red light instructs: stop at the intersection. After stopping one is also allowed to turn right if there is a sign to the right of the traffic light that shows a green arrow on a black background.

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Because on Ziegelstrasse one is only allowed to turn right, in accordance with regulation 27 section 37 of the transport regulations, we can do without using the traffic signal's green light."

The representative said the same job could not be fulfilled by a stop sign because "stop signs do not correspond to traffic light systems and do not fulfill the same set of regulations."