What are the rules for deducting points through traffic law study?
2 Answers
Point deduction through traffic law study is a measure for drivers holding a driver's license who have been penalized with points due to traffic violations. By participating in online traffic safety education and passing the exam, they can have their points reduced. This initiative is a convenient traffic management measure uniformly deployed by the Traffic Management Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security. According to Article 5 of the Notice issued by the Ministry of Public Security on January 14, 2020, titled 'Regulations on Reducing Points for Road Traffic Violations through Traffic Safety Education (Trial)' (Public Traffic Management [2020] No. 14): Motor vehicle drivers applying to participate in traffic safety education to reduce points for traffic violations must attend corresponding road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge study sessions or traffic safety public welfare activities based on their highest permitted vehicle type and meet relevant requirements to apply for point reduction. Specific considerations are as follows: Eligible Participants: Motor vehicle drivers holding a driver's license of the People's Republic of China, regardless of the permitted vehicle type or whether they are commercial vehicle drivers, can participate in point deduction through traffic law study. They must attend corresponding road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge study sessions or exams based on their highest permitted vehicle type. Specific Rules: Motor vehicle drivers participating in online road traffic law and regulation study must complete 5 minutes of continuous study per session. Within 3 days, the cumulative study time must reach 30 minutes. They can then register for an exam within 7 days. Passing the exam will reduce 1 point. Drivers can also attend on-site study sessions, with each session lasting no less than 1 hour. After completing the required study hours, they can apply for an exam. Passing the exam will reduce 2 points. Drivers can also participate in offline traffic safety public welfare activities, with each session lasting 1 hour, reducing 1 point per session. Accumulating 30 minutes of study within 3 days, with each session lasting no less than 5 minutes, and passing the exam will reduce 1 point. The maximum point reduction in one scoring cycle is 6 points. Non-eligible Cases: The following situations will not be accepted: The driver had two or more full-point records in the previous scoring cycle. Within a 3-point cycle, the driver fled the scene of a traffic accident, drove under the influence, or engaged in forging or altering documents or license plates. The driver's license is in the probation period or has not been reviewed on time. The driver has unresolved traffic violation records. The driver has a motor vehicle with an expired safety technical inspection or not deregistered as required. The driver has already reduced the maximum 6 points in the current cycle.
I've been driving for over a decade and find this 'Study to Reduce Points' rule quite practical. Simply put, if your driver's license has been penalized with points—and it's not for major offenses like drunk driving—you can reduce those points through official channels like the 'Traffic Management 12123' app. Open the app, select 'Study to Reduce Points,' watch some traffic safety videos or take a short quiz, and answering correctly will deduct 1 point. The whole process takes just about ten minutes. You can reduce up to 6 points in one scoring cycle, which saves you a lot in fines while also boosting your safety awareness through learning. It's super convenient—just use your phone anytime, anywhere, no need to visit the traffic office. However, note that the validity period is short; you must apply the points reduction promptly after completing the study. Also, this policy only applies to small car drivers, not motorcyclists, etc. I think it's a thoughtful policy that encourages learning and fewer violations, but when driving, you still need to strictly follow the rules.
