Running a red light does not necessarily mean you will be captured by cameras; it depends on whether there are cameras present. 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 permits passage, and a yellow light serves as a warning. Whether a motor vehicle runs a red light while turning left or going straight, it is considered a violation of the law. Generally, if you cross the stop line but manage to stop your vehicle immediately, even if you have already crossed the line, you will not be penalized. However, if you do not stop and continue moving forward, you will be penalized for running a red light. This is classified as stopping beyond the line, which, according to traffic laws, is considered driving or stopping at an intersection in violation of regulations. Therefore, it is essential to pay close attention to traffic signals while driving. Be mindful of intersections, crosswalks, stop lines, etc. Additionally, maintain a safe following distance, especially when behind large vehicles. Do not reverse after stopping beyond the stop line. If you accidentally run a red light, you can resolve the issue through appeals or petitions. Here are some tips to avoid running a red light: First, look at the arrow light, then the circular light: Currently, there are two types of traffic lights: arrow traffic lights and circular 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 can turn right. However, if the right-turn arrow is red, you cannot turn right; otherwise, you will be penalized for running a red light. Brake in time: When the red light turns on, ensure the front of your vehicle does not 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 light turns red, you must wait for the green light before proceeding. Check the green light countdown before proceeding: When the green light flashes, if there is a countdown, use it to make a judgment. 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 delayed braking. If your speed is slow and you are far from the intersection, brake immediately to avoid running a red light. Article 38 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China states: 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 signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should follow the motor vehicle 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: Extreme weather: When visibility is so low that even electronic police cannot clearly see the traffic lights, the evidence photos may be blurred. In such cases, accidental red-light running will not be penalized by traffic police. Emergency situations: When rushing a critically ill patient to the hospital, you may run multiple red lights, and the 12-point penalty system may not suffice. After delivering the patient, you can provide hospital or patient documentation to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records will be cleared. If possible, it is best to call an ambulance to avoid accidents caused by running red lights. Police direction: During peak hours, traffic police may temporarily direct traffic at major intersections. Drivers should follow the gestures of the traffic police. Yielding to special vehicles: Yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, or other special vehicles. If captured by surveillance cameras while yielding, the red-light running will not be recorded during manual review. Even if recorded, you can appeal to the traffic police department.
