What to Do If You Cross the Stop Line at a Traffic Light?
2 Answers
If you immediately stop after crossing the stop line at a red light, it is not considered running a red light and no points will be deducted. Here are the relevant details: 1. Running a red light: To determine whether a vehicle has run a red light, three photos are required. The first photo shows the vehicle crossing the stop line, the second shows the entire vehicle beyond the stop line, and the third shows the vehicle passing through the intersection. The photos also reflect the traffic light information. When all three photos are present, it is considered running a red light, resulting in a 6-point deduction. 2. Not considered running a red light: If the vehicle has just crossed the stop line at a red light and immediately stops, it is not considered running a red light. Even if the entire vehicle crosses the stop line, it is still not considered running a red light. However, this situation is considered illegal parking. According to regulations, failing to drive or park as required at an intersection results in a 2-point deduction.
That day, I was driving up to an intersection when the light was about to change. I didn’t control my speed well, and my car’s front end crossed the stop line just as the red light came on. I was startled but decided to stay put and not reverse—backing up is dangerous and could lead to a rear-end collision or hitting a pedestrian. I waited until the light turned green or traffic cleared before carefully moving forward. Actually, this kind of situation is quite common, especially on rainy days when the road is slippery. The key is safety first—staying still is better than making reckless moves, or you might cause an accident and get pulled over by the police. Later, I developed a habit of slowing down early when approaching traffic lights, maintaining a safe distance, and anticipating signal changes in advance. This helps greatly in avoiding crossing the line. Remember, road safety is far more important than rushing—better to be late than take risks.
