Does driving through during a yellow light count as running a red light?
3 Answers
According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," when the yellow light is flashing at an intersection, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to proceed. Therefore, crossing the stop line during a yellow light does not count as running a red light. If the yellow light is already on and a vehicle continues to force its way through, it will be considered running a red light if captured by cameras. If the yellow light is already on and a vehicle continues to force its way through, it will be considered running a red light if captured by cameras. According to the relevant provisions in the "Procedures for Handling Road Traffic Safety Violations," motor vehicle drivers who violate traffic signal lights at intersections will be penalized with 6 demerit points. Additionally, according to the relevant provisions in the "Road Traffic Safety Law," fines may also be imposed. Criteria for determining running a red light: Electronic cameras capture three photos as evidence for determining a red light violation: the front wheels crossing the stop line, the rear wheels crossing the stop line, and the front wheels crossing the opposite stop line. Only when all three photos are available will it be considered running a red light. According to Article 11 of the "Procedures for Handling Road Traffic Safety Violations," if a vehicle crosses the stop line when the red light is on but stops immediately, even if it has crossed the line, it will not be considered running a red light. However, it will be considered as stopping beyond the line, which, according to traffic laws, is classified as driving or stopping improperly at intersections, resulting in a 3-point penalty. How to avoid running a red light while driving: When there are arrow signal lights, follow the arrow lights; otherwise, follow the circular lights. When the red light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line. When the yellow light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line. When the green light just starts flashing, if the distance is close and the speed is high, the vehicle should proceed, as stopping might not be possible without crossing the stop line. If the distance is far, the speed is slow, or the intersection is congested, the vehicle should stop. When driving in the city, develop the habit of looking for traffic lights whenever encountering a crosswalk or stop line at an intersection.
Does driving through a yellow light count as running a red light? I think it depends on the situation. According to traffic rules, a yellow light is a warning signal indicating that the red light is about to turn on. If you're already very close to the stop line when the yellow light comes on and can't stop safely in time, proceeding through isn't considered running a red light. The actual definition of running a red light is passing the stop line after the red light has already turned on, which is when traffic cameras will capture the violation for fines or penalty points. From a safety perspective, I often remind myself not to accelerate through yellow lights because it's easy to cause rear-end collisions or other accidents. For example, once on a rainy day, the car in front suddenly braked hard at a yellow light, and I almost hit it. So my habit is: unless I'm really close, I start slowing down to stop when I see a yellow light. This habit has helped me avoid a lot of trouble. Ultimately, driving safety is more important than saving those few seconds, especially at busy intersections or in bad weather - stopping is the wiser choice.
Regarding whether driving through a yellow light counts as running a red light, I know some rules. According to traffic laws, a yellow light is not an order to stop, but a warning to prepare to stop. If your car is already close to the stop line when the yellow light comes on and you cannot safely stop, driving through does not count as running a red light; but if you cross the line after the yellow light turns red, it is considered running a red light. I've checked the rules in different regions—for example, some cities record red-light violations but rarely penalize driving through a yellow light. In practice, the key factors are the position of the stop line and your speed. For instance, when I often drive through busy intersections with a yellow light and heavy traffic, I calculate the distance: if I'm more than ten meters from the line, I prepare to stop; if less than ten meters, I just maintain a steady speed and drive through. This has helped me avoid tickets. In short, remember safety comes first—don’t take risks just to save time.
