If the traffic light is broken and I run a red light, will it be considered a violation?
3 Answers
If the traffic light is broken, you can still be caught for violations. As long as the surveillance cameras are functioning normally, all illegal activities will be recorded. Criteria for determining running a red light: The electronic eye captures three photos as evidence for running a red light: the front wheels crossing the stop line, the rear wheels crossing the stop line, and the front wheels crossing the opposite stop line. Only when all three photos are present will it be considered running a red light. How to avoid running a red light while driving: When there are arrow signals, follow the arrow lights; otherwise, follow the circular lights; When the red light is on, the front of the vehicle should not cross the stop line; When the yellow light is on, the front of the vehicle should not cross the stop line; When the green light just starts flashing, if you are close and moving fast, you should proceed, as you might not be able to stop in time and could 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 crosswalk or stop line, or when approaching an intersection.
I've been driving for half my life, and I've seen many people just drive through when traffic lights are out, but this is actually very dangerous. Traffic rules clearly state that when signals malfunction, the intersection should be treated as a stop sign, meaning drivers must come to a complete stop, check for safety, and then proceed. If you run through and the camera doesn't catch you, you might get lucky, but police on site can still ticket you for reckless driving. Last time I encountered a broken light, I stopped properly and nothing happened; another guy recklessly rushed through and got a ticket right away. My advice is to make it a habit to slow down at any abnormal intersection—don't prioritize speed. Remember, safety is far more important than time. A fine is minor; an accident is something you'll regret forever.
I just got my driver's license and was curious about this too. From traffic common sense, a broken traffic light doesn't mean you can run it freely because you need to consider overall safety. The regulations require treating it as a stop sign - you must come to a complete stop, wait a few seconds, and confirm there are no vehicles or pedestrians before proceeding. If you don't comply and run the red light, you might get caught by traffic cameras or police on site, which would count as a violation with a ticket. My driving instructor always emphasized that malfunctioning intersections are high-risk areas prone to accidents, and developing the habit of stopping can save lives. In reality, many accidents happen when people rush through, but being cautious never hurts. In short, when encountering a malfunctioning traffic light, don't act impulsively - stopping to observe is key. Whether it's a violation depends on whether you follow the rules.
