Lessons from a Traffic Light. A Juridical Scherzo

Abstract

Traffic lights are examined as one of the most common examples of "global administrative law" governed by an international convention (the 1968 Vienna convention on traffic signs). But also for their philosophy of the law implications especially as regards the relations of individuals with norms and normativity and the creation of social norms. Furthermore the traffic light metaphor is widely used in common language and in other fields of the law. Finally traffic lights are seen from a comparative law perspective, especially as a test for the effectiveness of uniform (and global) laws, taking into account essential aspects of the law such as sanctions and enforcement. Traffic lights could be used an elementary model to verify uniformity and compliance in much more complex pieces of the law.

Keywords: traffic lights, global administrative law, philosophy of law, comparative law, uniform law, administrative sanctions