Can You Stop to Pick Up or Drop Off Passengers at Traffic Lights?
2 Answers
It is illegal to stop to pick up or drop off passengers at traffic light intersections, regardless of whether there are traffic lights or not. This is because stopping is prohibited within 50 meters of an intersection. If you are caught illegally stopping to pick up or drop off passengers at a traffic light intersection, either by electronic surveillance or by traffic police on-site, you will be fined 200 RMB and have 3 points deducted from your license. Additionally, stopping to pick up or drop off passengers can easily lead to traffic accidents, and you may be held primarily or fully responsible for such accidents. More details are as follows: 1. When stopping at a red light, if your car is the first in line, it is advisable to leave a slightly larger distance from the stop line. This ensures you do not run the red light and provides enough distance to start smoothly when the light turns green. 2. If there are already many cars waiting in line ahead, maintain a reasonable distance from the car in front. This ensures safety (preventing the car in front from rolling back) and gives you enough time and distance to observe the movement of the cars ahead, ensuring a smooth start. 3. Also, while waiting at a red light, be sure to shift to neutral and avoid keeping the car in first gear or holding the clutch down with your left foot, as this can cause fatigue. Waiting for a longer time (more than 1 minute) can lead to confusion and mistakes when starting.
When it comes to whether you can stop to pick up or drop off passengers at traffic lights, as a seasoned driver who frequently navigates urban areas, I must emphasize that this is not a good idea. Traffic lights are designed as temporary stopping points for waiting at the signal, not for passenger exchanges. I've encountered numerous instances where someone stopped to drop off passengers at an intersection, resulting in rear-end collisions and nearly hitting pedestrians! Traffic regulations explicitly prohibit this behavior, and traffic police will issue fines if caught—ranging from a few hundred yuan in penalties to point deductions affecting your driver's license. From a safety perspective, lingering at traffic lights can easily cause congestion and increase the risk of accidents. For example, last time I was giving a friend a ride and hastily let them out, I was honked at as a warning. I recommend using designated pedestrian zones or temporary parking areas for such actions—developing good habits can save you a lot of trouble. With enough driving experience, these small details can truly prevent major hazards.
