Can I continue driving if I have crossed the stop line when the red light turns on?
3 Answers
Vehicles that have already crossed the stop line when the red light turns on can continue to proceed, because the red light is preceded by a yellow light, and vehicles that have passed the stop line during the yellow light flashing can continue to move forward. If the red light turns on and the vehicle has not crossed the stop line, it is prohibited to proceed. Relevant details are as follows: The stop line is a solid white line across the front of a road intersection (primarily at traffic light intersections), indicating the position where vehicles should wait for the signal to proceed, and they must not exceed or press down on the stop line. Additionally, on some roads with intersections, you may see double solid white lines accompanied by a 'Stop' sign. These double solid white lines also serve as stop lines, meaning vehicles must come to a complete stop at this intersection, allowing priority for vehicles on the main road. When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct the passage of through vehicles or pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to proceed. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from proceeding. At intersections without dedicated non-motorized vehicle or pedestrian traffic signals, non-motorized vehicles and pedestrians should follow the indications of the motor vehicle traffic signals. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed provided they do not obstruct the passage of through vehicles or pedestrians.
I almost made the same foolish mistake that day. The traffic regulations clearly state that if the front wheels have crossed the stop line when the red light comes on, you must stop immediately. It's not considered running a red light as long as the entire vehicle hasn't completely crossed the line. But if, as you said, the whole car has rushed through, that's a completely different matter. The cameras will snap three consecutive photos: the first showing your car's front crossing the line with the red light on, the second showing the entire vehicle moving across the crosswalk, and the third showing the opposite lane. With all three photos as evidence, there's no escaping the fine and penalty points. Old Zhang, with twenty years of driving experience, just got six points deducted three days ago for rushing those last two seconds of the light.
Last week, I witnessed a dangerous scene at the intersection of Chang'an Avenue. A young woman, perhaps distracted, had her car's rear still on the crosswalk when the traffic light turned solid red. She might have thought since she was already past the line, she could just speed through. But as she accelerated, an electric scooter from the right crashed squarely into her car door. So remember, if your car hasn't completely crossed the line when the light turns red, even if just the bumper is still over the line, you must stop immediately. It's even more dangerous to speed up and rush through—side traffic can't anticipate you suddenly darting out. Especially during rush hours in the morning and evening, with electric bikes weaving in and out, your sudden move can easily cause a "ghost probe" accident.
