What do these white blocks mean at an intersection?
Here in Germany where I live, in lieu of stop signs, a lot of intersections have things that look somewhat like this:
It's a set of four or five white blocks. It's similar to the solid line you'd see accompanying a stop sign, but these are separate blocks, and there's no stop sign.
I've made assumptions about what these are based on observation, and I've also searched fruitlessly for information about them.
What exactly do these mean for traffic? And is there an authoritative source where I can read about them?
Best Answer
This is a "unterbrochene Haltelinie" (broken wait line).
You are supposed to stop here to let pass cars that have right of way. However this is just a suggestion and serves as an indicator where it is safe to stop; stopping is not mandatory (so it is not actually in lieu of stop signs, because you'd have to stop at a stop sign even if you were the only car in town).
The ADAC (German auto club) has a complete (English) list of the names of German traffic signs. The wait linie is sign 341. There is also an (unbroken) stop line which usually accompanies the stop sign and indicates where exactly you have to stop.
The relevant law for all things related to street traffic is the Strassenverkehrsordnung.
Pictures about "What do these white blocks mean at an intersection?"
What are the white blocks in the road?
What is the purpose or significance of the white squares found in the middle of lanes on roads and motorways? They are designed to make the observer (driver) believe that there may be some kind of speed monitoring going on and therefore slow down.What are the white things on the side of the motorway?
White studs are placed in between the lanes on a motorway to help keep you in lane. These work by reflecting the light from your headlights back to you so that you are able to distinguish the different lanes on the motorway if you are caught in a heavy downpour, or you are required to drive late at night.What does the white line on the side of the road mean?
Explanation: The continuous white line shows the edge of the carriageway. It can be especially useful when visibility is restricted, such as at night or in bad weather. It's discontinued in some places; for example, at junctions, lay-bys, entrances or other openings.What do the lines in the middle of the road mean?
Lines that cross the road (transverse) give instructions to road users like 'give way' or 'stop'. A broken white line marks the middle of the road. When this line becomes longer, and the gaps get smaller, this means that there is a hazard close ahead.Chief Keef - Love Sosa
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Magda Ehlers, Ruslan Alekso, Magda Ehlers, Magda Ehlers