Does passing during a yellow light count as running a red light?
2 Answers
According to Article 38 of the 'Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China,' vehicles that have already crossed the stop line when the yellow light is flashing at an intersection may continue to pass. If the yellow light is already on and you continue to force your way through, being caught on camera in such a situation will also count as running a red light. According to the relevant provisions in Article 10 of the 'Regulations on the Handling of Road Traffic Safety Violations,' motor vehicle drivers who violate traffic signal lights at intersections will be penalized with 6 points. Additionally, according to the relevant provisions in Article 90 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law,' a fine may also be imposed. Criteria for determining running a red light: Electronic cameras will take three photos as evidence for running a red light: 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 'Regulations on the Handling of Road Traffic Safety Violations,' if you run through the stop line when the red light is on but manage to stop the vehicle even if you have already crossed the line, it will not be considered running a red light. However, it will be considered stopping beyond the line, and according to traffic laws, it is classified as driving or stopping at an intersection not in accordance with regulations, resulting in a 2-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 you are close and moving fast, you should pass because you might not be able to stop in time and cross the stop line; if you are far away, moving slowly, or the intersection is congested, you should stop; When driving in the city, develop the habit of looking for traffic lights whenever you see a crosswalk or stop line at an intersection.
I've been driving for over 30 years and always decide what to do at a yellow light based on the situation. If the yellow light just turned on and I'm already close to the intersection, driving steadily through it doesn't count as running a red light, since cameras mainly capture vehicles passing after the light turns red. But if I'm still far away when the yellow light appears and I accelerate to rush through, and if I don't make it before the red light comes on, the camera might capture my wheels crossing the stop line when the red light is already on, which could result in a fine of 200 yuan and 6 penalty points. The key is safety first. Once, I was in a hurry to get home at night and rushed through a yellow light, nearly colliding with a motorcycle. The police said such reckless behavior at yellow lights is likely to be penalized because it poses a high risk of dangerous driving. So now, when I see a yellow light, I slow down and stop if possible. If I can't stop, I proceed carefully. After driving for more years, you'll understand that the rules are there to protect everyone and avoid major losses for minor gains.
