Does running through a prolonged 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 the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," this offense is punishable by a fine and a deduction of 6 points from the driver's license. The "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" Article 26 states: 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. The "Road Traffic Safety Law" stipulates: A yellow light serves as a warning, and motor vehicles should slow down when approaching an intersection. If a vehicle has already crossed the stop line when the yellow light turns on, it may continue to pass; otherwise, it should stop. The "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" Article 38 specifies 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 pass. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from passing. 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 traffic enforcement cameras capture red-light running based on the following three photos, which are reviewed by traffic police to determine whether a violation occurred: An image showing the vehicle has not passed the stop line when the red light is on. An image showing the vehicle's front wheels pressing against the stop line. An image showing the entire vehicle body has crossed the stop line. If these three photos demonstrate that the vehicle moved beyond the stop line while the red light was on, the traffic police can confirm the vehicle ran a red light 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 signals in advance; observe the duration of the green light—if traffic is light and the green light lasts longer, prepare to slow down.
I've been driving for several years, and every time I encounter a prolonged yellow light, I hesitate whether to rush through it. But to be honest, this isn't considered running a red light, because running a red light means you're still in the middle of the intersection when the light turns red. A yellow light is just a warning signal, indicating that you should prepare to stop, not accelerate further. I remember one time at an intersection, the yellow light stayed on for quite a while, and when I rushed through, I almost got hit by a car coming from the right—luckily, I reacted quickly and avoided an accident. Since then, I've developed a habit: whenever I see a yellow light, I slow down and prepare to stop if possible; if not, I proceed steadily. According to traffic rules, running a yellow light isn't the same as running a red light, but if an accident occurs because of it, the police might issue you a ticket for reckless driving. So, don't risk it just to save a few seconds—safety comes first.
