Does turning left at a straight red light count as running a red light?
2 Answers
Generally speaking, as long as the vehicle is in the left-turn lane, turning left does not count as running a red light. Additional information: 1. Criteria for running a red light: The standard for running a red light is based on three consecutive images. This means capturing the vehicle's license plate crossing the stop line as the first photo, the vehicle passing through the center of the intersection as the second, and the vehicle crossing the opposite stop line as the third. Only when all three images are captured together is it considered running a red light. The new regulations state that running a red light involves crossing the stop line, proceeding past it, and then traversing the entire intersection. 2. Immediate stopping after mistakenly running a red light can avoid penalties: Because traffic cameras capture red-light violations by taking three consecutive photos as evidence, if a vehicle has just crossed the stop line when the light turns red but stops immediately, traffic authorities will not impose a penalty.
At most intersections, making a left turn when the straight-through signal is red indeed counts as running a red light, as I've learned from years of driving experience. A red light means you must come to a complete stop and cannot proceed in any direction, including left turns, unless there's a dedicated green arrow signal for left turns. Turning left indiscriminately not only risks getting caught by traffic cameras as a violation but also increases the chance of collisions with oncoming vehicles or pedestrians, posing extremely high safety hazards. I've personally witnessed such accidents resulting in severe rear-end collisions. The correct approach is to patiently wait for the green light before turning left, especially at complex urban intersections. Even if you're in a hurry, never take the risk—these rules exist to protect all road users by preventing crossing conflicts. Develop the habit of carefully observing signal changes to ensure safe driving.
