What to Do If You Run a Red Light?
2 Answers
Running a red light will result in a penalty of six demerit points. According to Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations," driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signal regulations 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 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 states: When passing through an intersection, motor vehicles shall proceed in accordance with traffic signals, traffic signs, traffic markings, or the instructions of traffic police. To avoid running a red light, follow these guidelines: First, observe the arrow light, then the circular light: Currently, there are two types of indicator lights: arrow traffic lights and circular indicator traffic lights. When arrow lights are present, first observe the arrow light and then the circular light to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red light, you may turn right; when encountering an arrow signal light with a red right-turn arrow, you must not turn right, otherwise, you will be penalized for running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light turns on, do not let the front of your vehicle cross the stop line. If the front wheels accidentally cross, and the rear wheels follow, the electronic camera will capture it, and you will be penalized for running a red light. If the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the signal turns red, do not proceed through the intersection; wait for the green light before continuing. Check the countdown of the green light before proceeding: When the green light flashes, if there is a countdown, you can judge based on the remaining time. If there is no countdown and you are close to the intersection with high speed, you may proceed to avoid running a red light due to untimely braking. If your speed is slow and you are far from the intersection, 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 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 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: Extreme weather: When visibility is so low that even electronic police cannot clearly see the traffic lights, the evidence of violation may be blurry. In such cases, mistakenly running a red light will not result in penalties. Emergency situations: When transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital, you may inevitably run multiple red lights, and 12 demerit points may not suffice. After delivering the patient, provide proof from the hospital or the rescued individual to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records can be expunged. If possible, it is best to call an ambulance to avoid accidents caused by running red lights. Traffic police instructions: During peak hours, traffic police may temporarily direct traffic at important intersections. Drivers must follow the gestures of the traffic police. Yielding to special vehicles: Yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, or other special vehicles. If caught on camera while yielding to such vehicles, manual review will not record the act of running a red light. Even if recorded, you can apply for reconsideration with the traffic police department.
The other day, I accidentally ran a red light. My mind went blank for a moment, and I immediately eased off the accelerator to stabilize the speed. Later, I proactively checked the traffic violation record and handled the fine directly on the Traffic Management 12123 app. A fall into a pit, a gain in your wit—now I start slowing down 30 meters before intersections and make sure to check for pedestrians before turning right. Honestly, getting 6 points deducted for running a red light is really painful, and it can also affect your insurance discount the following year. I suggest everyone minimize phone use while driving and pay more attention to road conditions. If you do get caught, don’t argue—safety is more important than anything else.
