Can You Continue Driving After Crossing the Stop Line Before a Red Light?
2 Answers
It depends on the situation. There are two scenarios: If the entire vehicle has crossed the stop line before the red light turns on, then you can continue driving. If only the front wheels of the vehicle have crossed the stop line before the red light turns on, then you should brake promptly and wait for the red light. Additional information: To fully leverage the cumulative demerit point system for motor vehicle drivers in preventing traffic accidents and regulating driving behavior, the national traffic management authorities have further intensified penalties for traffic safety violations. Starting from January 1, 2018, penalties for violations such as running a red light have been increased from a 3-point deduction to a 6-point deduction on the driver's license. Additionally, running a yellow light will also be considered as running a red light. Therefore, if the vehicle has not completely crossed the stop line when the red light turns on, it should stop and wait for the red light.
I've been driving for several years and have deep feelings about this situation. When you pass the stop line before a red light, theoretically, since you've already crossed the line, you shouldn't continue rushing forward, because you've likely already run the red light at this point, and the camera will capture it directly, leaving you waiting for a fine and penalty points. I remember once during rush hour after work, I was in a hurry to get home and accelerated too aggressively when the light turned yellow, resulting in my car's front crossing the line when it turned red. My instinct was to keep going, but I thought better of it and stopped to wait for the light. It was really fortunate because a car suddenly rushed out from the intersecting road and almost hit me. The lesson is, stopping immediately after crossing the line is the safest option—don't try to save time by continuing; just wait for the next green light. As for legal rules, they're pretty much the same everywhere: stopping at a red light is an ironclad rule, whether you've crossed the line or not. Developing good habits to avoid accidents is more important than anything else.
