Does stopping on the crosswalk count as running a red light?
2 Answers
No. If the vehicle stops on the crosswalk during a red light and remains stationary, it will not be considered running a red light. However, if the vehicle continues to proceed in violation of the rules, it constitutes running a red light, resulting in a 6-point penalty. If the vehicle crosses the stop line completely and continues moving until fully past the line, thereby affecting the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, it will be penalized as stopping beyond the line. Crossing the stop line can be divided into two scenarios: the front wheels crossing the stop line, or the entire vehicle crossing the stop line. Article 38 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" states the following for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signal lights: 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. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed if they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian crossing signal lights, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the motor vehicle signal lights. The new traffic regulations clearly specify three necessary conditions for a vehicle to be considered running a red light: The vehicle illegally crosses the stop line. The vehicle illegally enters the intersection. The vehicle illegally crosses the opposite stop line. Electronic police (traffic cameras) capture three complete video images to determine a vehicle running a red light: an image of the violation, an image of the license plate, and a panoramic image. There are three scenarios for determining whether a vehicle running a red light is in violation: If the vehicle stops immediately after its front wheels cross the stop line or if both front and rear wheels cross but the rear does not fully pass the stop line, traffic police will not penalize it as running a red light but may penalize it for improper stopping, deducting 2 points. If the vehicle stops after its front wheels cross the stop line and then reverses, and electronic cameras capture two complete movements, it will be treated as running a red light, resulting in a 6-point penalty and a fine. If the entire vehicle fully crosses the stop line and stops or continues moving, and electronic cameras capture the three complete images constituting a red-light violation within one red-light cycle, regardless of whether the vehicle reaches the intersection or crosses the opposite stop line, it will be penalized as running a red light, resulting in a 6-point penalty and a fine. The new traffic regulations stipulate that violating traffic signal lights while driving will result in a 6-point penalty. However, not all violations will lead to a 6-point deduction. For instance, violations such as making a left turn from a straight-only lane will still be penalized under the "Road Traffic Safety Law" with a 3-point deduction for violating prohibition signs. Additionally, red-light violations recorded by cameras will only incur a fine without point deductions.
Regarding whether stopping a car on a crosswalk counts as running a red light, I can share from my years of driving experience. Running a red light is only counted when the entire vehicle crosses the stop line, such as when all wheels pass the stop line after the light turns red, which triggers the system to take a photo as evidence. Although stopping on a crosswalk isn’t directly defined as running a red light, it’s still very dangerous. Once, I braked too hard and couldn’t control it well, causing the front of my car to stop on the crosswalk. Later, the traffic police said it wasn’t a violation for running a red light but could be fined for obstructing pedestrian passage. I suggest everyone pay attention to the distance to traffic lights while driving, slow down in advance, and avoid stopping at the last moment. Rules may vary slightly between cities, but safety comes first—avoiding such behavior protects both yourself and pedestrians from harm.
