Can I continue driving if the front wheels cross the line during a yellow light that turns red?
4 Answers
If the vehicle has already crossed the stop line when the light turns yellow, it can continue driving and it is not considered running a red light. According to regulations, when the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line can continue to pass. Running a red light is determined by three photos: one showing the front of the vehicle crossing the stop line during the red light, one showing the rear of the vehicle crossing the stop line, and one showing the entire vehicle completely passing the crosswalk. All three conditions must be met to be considered running a red light. According to Article 38 of the 'Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China': 1. When the green light is on: vehicles are allowed to pass, but turning vehicles must not hinder the passage of straight-moving vehicles and pedestrians; 2. When the yellow light is on: vehicles that have already crossed the stop line can continue to pass; 3. When the red light is on: vehicles are prohibited from passing.
As a seasoned driver with ten years of experience, the key in this situation is to observe the position of your car's front end. If the light turns red just as your front wheels cross the line at a yellow light, it's best to stop immediately. The law states that vehicles are prohibited from crossing the stop line once the red light is on, but if most of the car has already passed the line, you may proceed. If you barely cross the line when it turns red and still force your way through, you risk a 6-point penalty and a 200-yuan fine if caught. More dangerously, accelerating at intersections can easily lead to accidents. My rule of thumb is: when the yellow light comes on, stop directly if your rear hasn't crossed the line, proceed decisively if more than half of your car has passed, and never hesitate at the stop line. By the way, there's usually a 1-second delay in camera triggering at intersections, but relying on this is highly risky.
I just handled a similar traffic violation appeal last week. The driver crossed the line with the front wheels 0.5 seconds before the yellow light ended, but was still penalized for running a red light. Traffic regulations clearly state: a yellow light is a warning signal, and vehicles that have not crossed the stop line must stop. The key is the vehicle's real-time position at the moment the light turns red. If it's a straight lane, you can proceed if the entire front of the car has crossed the line before the light changes; extra caution is needed for left-turn lanes, as some waiting zones are five meters behind the stop line—crossing the stop line doesn't count as completing the pass. I recommend installing a dashcam; in case of disputes, you can retrieve the video to prove the front wheels crossed during the yellow light.
It's more reliable to judge based on specific scenarios. At a standard intersection, if the front wheels have already crossed the pedestrian crossing line, you should proceed through as quickly as possible even if the light turns red. However, pay attention to three exceptions: first, if there is a traffic officer directing traffic at the intersection, you must obey their hand signals; second, if there is an accident or congestion ahead, you should stop even if you've crossed the line; third, if the left-turn waiting zone light turns red, you must stop within the waiting zone even if the front wheels have crossed the line. Once, when I was crossing an intersection, the front wheels had just crossed the line when the light changed, and the rear wheels were still outside the stop line. In such a case, stopping would leave the car stranded in the middle of the road, which is more dangerous, so accelerating to pass through is actually the reasonable choice.
