Is Passing Through After the Yellow Light Counts as Running a Red Light?

[SamuelDella]

Running a yellow light and running a red light are both categorized under the same traffic violation—driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," this offense is punishable by a fine and 6 penalty points. Article 26 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates: Traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light indicates permission to proceed, and a yellow light serves as a warning. The "Road Traffic Safety Law" specifies: A yellow light serves as a warning, and motor vehicles should slow down when approaching an intersection. If a vehicle has already crossed the stop line when the yellow light turns on, it may continue to pass through. If the vehicle has not crossed the stop line, it should come to a stop. The "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," Article 38, states for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle signal lights: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must not obstruct the passage of through-moving vehicles or pedestrians. When the yellow light is on, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to proceed. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from proceeding. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian crossing signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the motor vehicle signal indications. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed, provided they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Electronic surveillance captures red-light running based on the following three photos, which are reviewed by traffic police to determine whether a violation occurred: An image of the vehicle not having passed the stop line when the red light is on. An image of the vehicle's front wheels crossing the stop line. An image of the vehicle's entire body having crossed the stop line. If these three photos show that the vehicle moved beyond the stop line while the red light was on, the traffic police can confirm the vehicle ran a red light during review. To avoid running a yellow light: Slow down when approaching an intersection, maintain a speed of 20-30 km/h, keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, and avoid tailgating or rushing through a yellow light. Alternatively, observe the signal light in advance; if the green light has been on for a long time and traffic is light, prepare to slow down.

[OCarter]

Passing through after the yellow light is usually not considered running a red light. Running a red light is strictly defined as continuing to drive when the red light is on and your car has not yet crossed the stop line. The yellow light is a warning signal, meaning "prepare to stop" not "speed up and rush through." If you are very close to the intersection when the yellow light comes on and cannot stop safely—such as being only a few meters from the stop line at high speed—passing through is not a violation. Traffic laws allow a brief yellow light for clearing the intersection, but only if safety is assessed and risks are avoided. I've seen many people mistakenly think the yellow light is their last chance, leading to sudden acceleration that causes rear-end or side collisions. New drivers are better off developing the habit of slowing down when they see a yellow light. If the red light happens to come on, they could be fined and penalized with points. In actual driving, factors like intersection size, speed, and weather conditions should be considered for real-time judgment—stopping is always the safer choice.

[McGage]

This depends on the scenario. Running through a yellow light is not considered running a red light because, by definition, running a red light means crossing the stop line after the light turns red. However, this maneuver is very dangerous and can easily lead to accidents. For example, you might rush through a yellow light but fail to notice a car speeding from the left, or you might brake suddenly and cause a rear-end collision. In real-life experience, many minor fender benders start this way. My advice is to assess whether you can stop safely when you see a yellow light. If you're within 10 meters of the intersection and moving at high speed, gently press the accelerator to pass through quickly. If you're farther away, slow down and wait for the next green light. Don’t gamble with luck—safety is far more important than saving a few seconds. When driving daily, remember to follow the rules, not look for loopholes.

[AnaRose]

From a regulatory perspective, passing through after a yellow light does not count as running a red light. Running a red light specifically requires that you are still moving across the line after the light has turned red. The yellow light is merely a transitional signal, allowing vehicles to proceed under safe conditions. If you have already entered the intersection when the light turns yellow, passing through is perfectly normal. However, don't abuse this situation—if an officer believes you intentionally accelerated to pass, you might receive a ticket. Always leave enough reaction time when driving and proceed steadily.

[WestonFitz]

Passing through after the yellow light comes on is not considered running a red light. Traffic laws define running a red light as failing to stop before the stop line after the red light activates. However, technically speaking, the traffic signal system has a yellow light buffer period, typically around 3 seconds, to ensure the intersection is safely cleared. So, if you pass through just as the yellow light turns on or are already in the intersection, it is not a violation. The key is to judge whether you can safely stop or proceed to avoid sudden braking that could cause a rear-end collision. I always say, don't treat the yellow light as a signal to speed up; otherwise, you bear the risk of an accident. New drivers should practice the habit of slowing down in advance at intersections.