Is it true that red light cameras only start capturing 3 seconds after the light turns red?
3 Answers
No. Regarding the activation time of electronic police camera systems, the system is already operational when the red light turns on. Relevant details: 1. Details: When the green light turns on, the camera system shuts down 2 seconds in advance; when the yellow light turns on, the camera system delays activation by 2 seconds. This method reduces the likelihood of the system mistakenly capturing vehicles running red lights. 2. Precautions: New drivers may inevitably feel nervous when first hitting the road. The first step is to overcome nervousness and relax. When approaching the 100-meter zebra crossing before a red light, gently apply the brake to reduce speed. As you near the intersection, simultaneously press the clutch and fully depress the brake, which will bring the vehicle to an immediate stop.
Last time I heard my neighbor talking about this, I specifically checked the traffic regulations. In fact, the traffic rules don't specify any delay time at all; the '3-second rule' is a misunderstanding. Electronic police enforcement captures the entire process: the moment the light turns red and the wheels cross the line, the vehicle moving through the intersection, and a panoramic photo when the opposite light is red. The response speed of equipment varies by location, with some new devices activating in as little as 0.5 seconds. With over a decade of driving experience, my takeaway is that you should slow down at yellow lights and not gamble on those few seconds of buffer. Just last week, I saw a car rushing through a yellow light that turned red, and the flash went off the moment its wheels crossed the line, which scared me into hitting the brakes immediately.
This statement is half true and half false. Traffic cameras do have technical delays, but it's definitely not a fixed 3 seconds. The latest equipment installed in Beijing can capture violations in 0.8 seconds, while the older systems in my hometown are indeed slower. The key factor is the timing of your wheels crossing the line - if your front wheels pass the line when the red light comes on, it might not count as running the light, but if your rear wheels are still on the line, three photos will definitely be taken. Once when I was driving in the rain, the braking distance increased, and my front wheels had just crossed the line when the red light came on. I waited nervously for two weeks but didn't receive a ticket. However, never count on luck - safety is more important than anything else.
