Does running through 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 10 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," this offense is punishable by a fine and 6 demerit points. 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 26 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law" further states: A yellow light serves as a warning, and motor vehicles should slow down when approaching an intersection. If the vehicle has already crossed the stop line when the yellow light turns on, it may continue through; otherwise, the vehicle should stop. Article 38 of the "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" specifies the meanings of 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 through traffic 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 dedicated non-motor vehicle or pedestrian 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 through traffic or pedestrians. Electronic traffic enforcement captures red-light running violations based on the following three photos, which are reviewed by traffic police to determine whether a violation occurred: 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 crossing the stop line. An image of the entire vehicle 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 determine that 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 to prevent rear-end collisions or rushing through a yellow light. Alternatively, pay attention to the signal timing—if the green light duration is long and traffic is light, prepare to slow down.
As an experienced driver who has been on the road for many years, I often hesitate when encountering yellow lights. After all, yellow lights only last two or three seconds. If my car is almost at the stop line, slamming on the brakes could cause a rear-end collision, but speeding through feels like challenging the rules. Legally, it depends on the location and situation: in most places, a yellow light is a "warning to stop" signal. If you can safely stop within a reasonable distance but choose to accelerate instead, traffic police or cameras may penalize you as if you ran a red light, with fines and demerit points. Cameras capture the traffic light status the moment your vehicle enters the intersection—if the light turns red while you're still in the intersection, you're in trouble. For safety, I always remind myself not to take risks. Slowing down or stopping is the wiser choice—a yellow light isn't a sequel to the green light urging you to speed up. A few extra seconds waiting for the next green light are far better than an accident or a ticket.
