Does running a yellow light count as running a red light?
2 Answers
Running a yellow light and running a red light are both considered the same traffic violation—driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations. According to Article 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Violations," if a motor vehicle driver commits any of the following violations, they will be penalized with 6 points: driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations. The "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" Article 26 stipulates: Traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light indicates permission to proceed, and a yellow light serves as a warning. Article 38 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law" states: A yellow light serves as a warning, and motor vehicles should slow down when passing through an intersection. If a vehicle has already crossed the stop line when the yellow light is on, it may continue to pass; otherwise, it should stop. Article 38 of the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" specifies the following for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signals: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct the passage of straight-moving vehicles or pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to proceed. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from proceeding. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian crossing signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the motor vehicle signal indications. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed if they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Electronic police capture red-light running violations based on the following three photos, which are reviewed by traffic police to determine whether a red light was run: An image of the vehicle not having passed the stop line when the red light is on. An image of the vehicle's front wheels pressing against the stop line. An image of the vehicle's entire body having crossed the stop line. If these three photos show that the vehicle moved beyond the stop line while the red light was on, the traffic police can confirm it as a red-light running violation during review. To avoid running a yellow light: Slow down when approaching an intersection, maintain a speed of 20–30 km/h, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and avoid tailgating or rushing through a yellow light. Alternatively, pay attention to the traffic signal in advance; observe the duration of the green light—if traffic is light and the green light lasts longer, prepare to slow down.
A yellow light is not running a red light. As a veteran driver with over ten years of experience, I've personally encountered many such situations. A yellow light is a warning signal, meaning 'prepare to stop,' not 'rush through.' I remember once at an intersection, the light turned yellow while I was still before the stop line, so I braked immediately. If the car has already crossed the stop line when the light turns yellow, it doesn't count as running a red light—safety first. However, some people mistakenly think speeding through is fine, but it's actually very risky, as it can easily lead to fines from traffic cameras or even cause accidents. It's important to develop the habit of slowing down in advance when seeing a yellow light and not taking risks. Every year, many traffic accidents are caused by rushing through yellow lights, which serves as a reminder for everyone to follow the rules.
