Does stopping the car on the pedestrian crossing when the red light is on count as running a red light?
2 Answers
Stopping the car on the pedestrian crossing does not count as running a red light. Running a red light refers to the act of a motor vehicle violating traffic signal instructions by crossing the stop line and continuing to drive when the red light is on and passage is prohibited. To determine a red light violation, at least three photos are required as evidence: the vehicle not leaving the stop line when the red light is on; the vehicle passing through the intersection when the red light is on; and the vehicle having crossed the line and continuing to move forward when the red light is on. Article 26 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law": Traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibited passage, a green light indicates permitted passage, and a yellow light indicates a warning. Article 44: Motor vehicles passing through intersections shall do so in accordance with traffic signals, traffic signs, traffic markings, or the command of traffic police. Item 2 of the first paragraph of Article 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations" stipulates that driving a motor vehicle in violation of road traffic signals results in a deduction of 6 points. Ways to avoid running a red light: When there are arrow indicator lights, watch the arrow lights; otherwise, watch the round lights; When the red light is on, the front of the car must not cross the stop line; When the yellow light is on, the front of the car must not cross the stop line; When the green light just flashes, if you are close and moving fast, you should pass, as you might not be able to stop in time and 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 pedestrian crossing or stop line and approach an intersection.
I've been driving for over 15 years and have encountered this situation at intersections before. To be honest, stopping your car on the crosswalk when the light turns red doesn't strictly count as running a red light; running a red light usually means you've completely crossed the stop line and entered the intersection after the light turns red. If only your wheels are on the crosswalk when you stop, it's more like illegal parking because you might be blocking the pedestrian crossing, making it difficult for pedestrians to pass. I once did this in Shanghai, got caught by a camera, was fined 200 yuan, and almost got points deducted. From a safety perspective, it's more important—parking like this increases the risk of accidents, especially during rush hours when there are many pedestrians. I recommend everyone pay attention to the stop line when waiting at a red light, slow down and brake in advance, and stay in a safe position. This way, you can avoid tickets and protect others.
