Is Running a Yellow Light Considered a Traffic Violation? Will Points Be Deducted?
4 Answers
Running a yellow light is a traffic violation for motor vehicles, and the penalty standard is the same as running a red light. According to the latest revised "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," running a yellow light will result in a deduction of 6 points and a fine. Determination of Running a Yellow Light: According to Article 38 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," when the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, 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 proceed; vehicles that have not crossed the stop line should stop. Running a yellow light is considered a violation of traffic signal rules. Special Cases Where Running a Yellow Light Can Be Appealed: If a driver "accidentally" runs a yellow light due to obstructed vision caused by large vehicles such as buses, trucks, or trailers ahead, they can bring their driving records to the traffic police department to have the penalty revoked. In cases where emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, or special vehicles are performing urgent tasks and require yielding at intersections, running a yellow light can also be appealed. The driver must bring their driving records for review, and the traffic police department will assess the situation based on the vehicle's route and intersection surveillance to potentially revoke the penalty. If the traffic signal malfunctions or conflicts arise and there is on-site police direction, drivers must follow the officer's instructions. Even if captured by electronic traffic cameras and a violation is recorded, they can obtain a traffic flow adjustment certificate from the traffic police department to resolve the issue.
I used to pay special attention to yellow lights when driving. In China, running a yellow light isn't considered an absolute traffic violation. The traffic law states that yellow lights are warning signals - you should stop if it's safe to do so, but it's not illegal if you can't brake in time and proceed through. The problem is that in reality, cameras often capture it as a violation, especially for those who speed through. The penalties are quite severe. I have a friend in Beijing who got caught by a camera rushing through a yellow light - they got 6 points deducted and a 200 yuan fine, which really wasn't worth it. So I think the right approach is to slow down and prepare to stop at yellow lights, rather than trying to rush through. After all, intersections are high-risk areas for accidents. Developing good driving habits can save you a lot of trouble.
As someone who frequently commutes in the city, I'm quite familiar with the yellow light dilemma. In our area, running a yellow light isn't strictly considered a violation, but if you force your way through, you're likely to get fined. That time in Shenzhen when I was in a hurry and couldn't stop at the yellow light, I got caught by the traffic camera - 6 points deducted plus a fine. A painful lesson indeed. Legally speaking, the yellow light is a transitional signal requiring safe passage, but traffic regulations have many gray areas. Some places enforce strictly, and penalty points can affect your insurance rates, which is annoying. Now when approaching intersections, I ease off the accelerator early to assess the situation, ensuring a safe and steady approach. After all, safety comes first when driving - those few seconds really aren't worth it.
When I was learning to drive last year for my license, the rule about yellow lights wasn't that you must stop, but running them could get you in trouble. The instructor repeatedly taught us to slow down early at yellow lights - if you can't stop in time, you can proceed, but many city surveillance cameras will capture it as failing to obey traffic signals, typically resulting in a 6-point deduction and 200-yuan fine. I've personally witnessed accidents caused by drivers running yellow lights, which scared me into being extra cautious. Now at every intersection, I pay attention to the yellow light duration and surrounding traffic flow - safe passage is what matters most, saving those few seconds isn't worth it.
