What are the penalty points and penalties for running a red light?
3 Answers
Article 2, Paragraph 1, Item 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations" stipulates that driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations will result in 6 penalty points. 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 signals 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: Motor vehicles passing through intersections shall proceed according to traffic signals, traffic signs, traffic markings, or the direction of traffic police. Based on the following points, running a red light can be avoided: First look at the arrow light, then the circular light: Currently, there are two types of indicator lights: arrow traffic lights and circular indicator traffic lights. In the presence of an arrow light, first observe the arrow light and then the circular light to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red light, a right turn is permitted; when encountering an arrow signal light with a red right-turn arrow, a right turn is not allowed, otherwise it will be penalized as running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light is on, do not let the front of the vehicle cross the stop line. If the front wheels accidentally cross and the rear wheels follow, the electronic camera will capture it, and it will be penalized as running a red light; when the front wheels have just crossed the stop line and the signal turns red, passage through the intersection is prohibited. Wait for the green light before proceeding. Check the green light countdown before proceeding: When the green light is flashing, if there is a countdown, judge accordingly; if there is no countdown and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, passage is allowed to avoid running a red light due to untimely braking; if the speed is low and the vehicle is far from the intersection, brake immediately to 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. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from passing. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian crossing signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians shall follow the motor vehicle signal indications. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may pass if they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Running a red light is not considered illegal under the following circumstances: Yielding to special vehicles: Yielding to special vehicles such as ambulances or fire trucks. If a violation is captured by surveillance cameras due to yielding to special vehicles, the act of running a red light will not be recorded during manual review. Even if recorded, an appeal can be filed with the traffic police department. Extreme weather: When visibility is so low that even electronic police cannot clearly see the traffic lights. The photographic evidence of the violation may be blurred, and accidental running of a red light will not be penalized by traffic police. Emergency situations: Transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital may involve running multiple red lights, far exceeding the 12-point limit. After delivering the patient, the citizen can provide proof from the hospital or the person assisted to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records can be cleared. If possible, it is best to call an ambulance to avoid traffic accidents caused by running red lights. Traffic police direction: During peak hours, traffic police may temporarily direct traffic at important intersections. Drivers should follow the gestures of the traffic police.
A few days ago, I almost ran a red light while driving, but luckily I braked in time! The penalty for running a red light is quite severe—it deducts 6 points from your driver's license at once, plus a fine of around 200 yuan. Traffic rules are being enforced more strictly these days, and I’ve heard some cities are even using high-definition cameras for automatic detection. If you lose too many points, you’ll have to retake the driving test, which is a huge hassle! Last time, my neighbor almost lost his job because of this. My advice: stay alert while driving, don’t use your phone at red lights, and prepare to stop when you see a yellow light—don’t risk it for just a few seconds.
Running a red light can be a big or small matter, and I'd like to share an experience. Last year, I was in a hurry to get to the airport and ended up running a red light in my rush. I got caught by a traffic camera, which cost me 6 points and a 200-yuan fine. The worst part was that I didn't realize my points were almost used up, so when I was later caught speeding, I had to retake the written driving test. The fine might not seem like much, but insurance companies also raise premiums when they see traffic violations. So I've learned my lesson—now I start slowing down 100 meters before an intersection, especially in heavy rain when visibility is poor. I'd rather stop early and wait.
