Does passing through a yellow light count as running a red light?

[EmersynLynn]

According to 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 proceed. 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 the "Procedures for Handling 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 the "Road Traffic Safety Law," a fine may also be imposed. Criteria for determining running a red light: Electronic eyes capture 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 present will it be considered running a red light. When the red light is on and you cross the stop line, if you can stop the car even after crossing the line, it will not be considered running a red light, but it will be considered crossing the line and stopping. According to traffic laws, this is classified as driving or stopping at an intersection in violation of regulations, resulting in a 2-point penalty. How to avoid running a red light while driving: When there is an arrow signal light, follow the arrow light; otherwise, follow the circular light. 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 proceed, as stopping might be difficult and you could 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.

[TannerAnn]

When I see a yellow light, I always remind myself to slow down because a yellow light means it's time to decelerate and stop. According to traffic rules, only crossing the stop line after the red light turns on is considered running a red light, passing through during the yellow light does not count as running a red light. However, if you haven't crossed the line when the yellow light turns on but still rush through, it's called running a yellow light, and in many places, this can be captured by cameras and result in fines and penalty points. Once, I was caught by an electronic eye rushing through a yellow light at an intersection and later received a text message saying I had violated traffic signal regulations. Now, when approaching an intersection, I ease off the accelerator in advance, maintain a safe distance, and ensure I can stop steadily when encountering a yellow light, both following the rules and ensuring safety.

[OLilliana]

From a traffic regulation perspective, yellow lights and red lights are fundamentally different in nature. A yellow light is a warning signal, permitting vehicles that have already crossed the stop line to continue through the intersection, while prohibiting vehicles that have not yet crossed the line from proceeding further. Running a red light refers to the act of crossing the stop line and continuing to drive after the red light has turned on. Last month, I witnessed a car rushing through a yellow light collide with an electric scooter coming from the side. The traffic police determined that the car rushing the yellow light was primarily at fault. Although it wasn't treated as running a red light, the repair costs plus medical expenses amounted to seven or eight thousand yuan, which was far more severe than a traffic violation fine. Therefore, when encountering a yellow light, never risk accelerating—stepping on the brakes early is the safest approach.

[VonMadeline]

Whether a yellow light counts as running a red light depends on the situation at that moment. With 15 years of driving experience, I've learned this rule: if the front wheels have crossed the line when the light turns yellow, you can proceed; if not, you must stop. I remember the new traffic regulations last year clearly stated that penalties for running a yellow light differ from running a red light—running a red light results in a 6-point deduction, while running a yellow light usually deducts 3 points. However, some cities enforce yellow light violations strictly, like Beijing, where rushing through yellow lights is heavily monitored. I usually watch the traffic light timer at intersections—if the green light has only 2-3 seconds left, I won't rush through, preferring to wait another cycle to avoid traffic violations.

[MatthewLynn]

At the driving school, instructors taught us that we should stop and wait when the yellow light comes on. Although it's not considered running a red light, rushing through a yellow light is equally dangerous. I've reviewed local traffic violation records, and accidents caused by rushing through yellow lights account for over 20% of the total. There was a typical case where a truck driver accelerated through an intersection at a yellow light and collided with a car making a normal left turn. Later, traffic police retrieved the dashcam footage and found that the truck had crossed the line 0.8 seconds after the yellow light had turned on. Ultimately, the driver was penalized for violating traffic signal rules. It's advisable to develop the habit of lightly braking at intersections and remain vigilant as the green light is about to end.