Will running a red light at night go unnoticed by cameras?

[LeClaire]

If there are surveillance cameras, the vehicle will be photographed regardless of whether it runs a red light while turning left or going straight, both of which constitute traffic violations. According to the relevant provisions of the Road Traffic Safety Law, vehicles must obey traffic signals, including traffic lights, road signs, road markings, and the directions of traffic police. Here are some tips to avoid running a red light: Check the arrow light first, then the circular light: Currently, there are two types of traffic lights: arrow traffic lights and circular traffic lights. When arrow lights are present, drivers should first observe the arrow light and then the circular light to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a circular red light, right turns are permitted; when encountering an arrow signal light with a red right-turn arrow, right turns are prohibited. Violations will be penalized as running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light turns 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 definitely capture it, and the driver will be penalized for running a red light. If the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the light turns red, the vehicle must wait for the next green light before proceeding. Check the countdown before proceeding: When the green light flashes, if there is a countdown, drivers can judge accordingly. If there is no countdown and the vehicle is close to the intersection with sufficient speed, it may proceed to avoid running a red light due to delayed braking. If the speed is slow and the vehicle is far from the intersection, it should 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 the following for motor vehicle and non-motor vehicle traffic signals: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, 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 proceed. When the red light is on, vehicles are prohibited from proceeding. At intersections without non-motor vehicle or pedestrian crossing signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians must follow the motor vehicle traffic signals. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed if they do not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Running a red light is not considered a violation under the following circumstances: Yielding to emergency vehicles: Yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, or other emergency vehicles. If captured by surveillance cameras while yielding, the violation will not be recorded during manual review. Even if recorded, drivers can apply for reconsideration at 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. In such cases, mistakenly running a red light will not incur penalties. Emergency situations: When transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital, running multiple red lights may be unavoidable. After delivering the patient, the driver can present proof from the hospital or the rescued individual to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records will be expunged. If possible, calling an ambulance is recommended to avoid accidents caused by running red lights. Traffic police direction: During peak hours, traffic police may temporarily direct traffic at major intersections. Drivers must follow the hand signals of the traffic police. The traffic police department states that according to the Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, when the yellow light flashes at an intersection, vehicles that have already crossed the stop line may continue to proceed. If the yellow light is already on and the driver accelerates to pass, it will still be considered running a red light if captured.

[ORowan]

Having driven for many years, I often get asked whether running a red light at night will be caught on camera. Based on experience, the night vision technology of cameras is now very advanced, using infrared or high-definition sensors that can clearly capture license plates even in pitch-black darkness. Some drivers think they can get away with it due to insufficient lighting, but the system is designed for all-weather monitoring, and the accident rate is not low. I've seen many cases where friends got tickets for running red lights at midnight, with the photos even brighter than daytime shots. The key is safety considerations—visibility is poor at night, and the risk of running a red light increases significantly. In the event of a collision with another vehicle, the accident could be more severe. Develop the habit of never running a red light; waiting a few extra seconds is not a bad thing.