What are the penalty rules for running a red light?

[McCaleb]

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 lights will result in a deduction of 6 points. Running a red light refers to the act of a motor vehicle violating the prohibition of passage during the red light phase at signal-controlled intersections or road sections, crossing the stop line, and continuing to drive. According to Article 26 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law': Traffic signal lights 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 states: When motor vehicles pass through intersections, they should do so in accordance with traffic signal lights, traffic signs, road markings, or the direction of traffic police. You can avoid running a red light by following these points: 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 case of arrow lights, first observe the arrow light and then the circular light to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red light, you can turn right; when encountering an arrow signal light, if the right-turn arrow is red, you cannot turn right, otherwise it will be penalized as running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light comes 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; if the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the signal turns red, passage through the intersection is prohibited, and you should 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, you can judge based on the countdown; if there is no countdown, and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, you can pass to avoid running a red light due to untimely braking; if the speed is not fast and the vehicle is far from the intersection, you should brake immediately to stop and 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 the following for motor vehicle signal lights 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-going 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 signal lights or pedestrian crossing signal lights, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the motor vehicle signal lights. 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 ambulances, fire trucks, and other special vehicles. 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, you can apply for reconsideration at the traffic police department. Extreme weather: When visibility is very low, and even electronic police cannot clearly see the traffic lights. The photos capturing the violation may be blurry, and if you mistakenly run a red light, the traffic police will not impose a penalty. Emergency situations: When rushing a critically ill patient to the hospital, you will inevitably run many red lights, and 12 points may not be enough. After delivering the patient, citizens can provide proof from the hospital or the person being assisted to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation record can be cleared. If possible, it is best to call an ambulance to avoid 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.

[Penny]

I've been driving for decades, and that time I ran a red light was a profound lesson. I was immediately penalized with 6 points—half of the total 12 points on my license—and fined 200 yuan, not to mention the considerable time spent dealing with the aftermath. The safety risks are even greater; running a red light can easily cause accidents, and I've seen others get injured because of it. Developing good habits is crucial: stop immediately at red lights and slow down at yellow lights instead of rushing through. Electronic surveillance is now ubiquitous in cities, making it impossible to evade. If you commit another violation within the same year after losing points, your license could be revoked, requiring you to retake the test, which is both costly and time-consuming. Choose your parking spots wisely to avoid sudden braking and rear-end collisions. Traffic rules are there for everyone's benefit—don't lose sight of the bigger picture for minor gains. Getting home safely is what matters most; think of your family's concerns.