How many points will be deducted for running a red light?
2 Answers
According to Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the 'Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations,' driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal lights will result in a deduction of 6 points per offense. Running a red light refers to the act of a motor vehicle violating the prohibition of passage during the red light phase at a signal-controlled intersection or road section, crossing the stop line, and continuing to drive. According to Article 26 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law': Traffic signal lights consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light indicates permission to pass, and a yellow light serves as a warning. Article 44: When motor vehicles pass through intersections, they should proceed according to traffic signal lights, traffic signs, traffic markings, or the instructions of traffic police. To avoid running a red light, follow these guidelines: First, observe the arrow signal, then the circular signal: Currently, there are two types of indicator lights: arrow traffic lights and circular indicator traffic lights. When arrow signals are present, first check the arrow signal and then the circular signal to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red signal, right turns are permitted; when encountering an arrow signal with a red right-turn arrow, right turns are prohibited, and violations will be penalized as running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light turns on, ensure the front of the vehicle does not cross the stop line. If the front wheels accidentally cross, and the rear wheels follow, electronic cameras will capture the violation, resulting in a penalty for running a red light. If the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the signal turns red, do not proceed through the intersection; wait for the green light before continuing. Check the green light countdown before proceeding: When the green light flashes, if there is a countdown, use it to judge whether to proceed. If there is no countdown, and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, it may proceed to avoid running a red light due to delayed braking. If the speed is low and the vehicle is far from the intersection, brake immediately to stop and avoid running a red light. Article 38 of the 'Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China' states for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signal lights: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to pass, 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.
I remember one time I was in a hurry while driving and didn't notice the red light had already turned on. Luckily, I wasn't caught. Later, I checked and found out that running a red light deducts a full 6 points. Six points might not seem like much, but it's half of the 12 points on a driver's license! If you accumulate 12 points, you'll have to attend a training course or even retake the driving test, which is a huge hassle. The fine is usually around 200 yuan, with slight variations in different cities, but it's not about the money—it's about safety. Running a red light is most likely to cause accidents, especially at intersections, and hitting a pedestrian or another car would be a real tragedy. Now, whenever I see a red light, I remind myself to slow down in advance and not rush through yellow lights. After driving for a while, you realize that rules are life-savers—don't risk it for a few seconds. Safety is more important than anything. Developing good habits and using navigation app alerts can also help.