Will running a red light on a motorcycle result in penalties?
3 Answers
Running a red light will be captured by electronic surveillance cameras because motorcycles are classified as motor vehicles. According to Article 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations," running a red light will result in a deduction of 6 points. Running a red light refers to the act of a motor vehicle violating traffic signal instructions by crossing the stop line and continuing to move when the red light is on, prohibiting passage. Determining a red-light violation requires at least three pieces of photographic evidence: the vehicle not having left the stop line when the red light is on; the vehicle passing through the intersection when the red light is on; and the vehicle having crossed the line and continuing to move forward when the red light is on. Common scenarios of running a red light: When the red light is on, if the front wheel touches the stop line but the vehicle stops immediately, it is not considered running a red light. However, if the vehicle continues to move, it will be counted as running a red light. According to Article 3 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations," if a vehicle completely crosses the stop line and stops on the pedestrian crossing after the red light turns on, this is not considered running a red light but is classified as over-the-line parking, which incurs a 3-point deduction. If the vehicle moves noticeably on the pedestrian crossing or obstructs pedestrian passage, it will be judged as running a red light. If the front wheel crosses the stop line and then reverses back behind the stop line when the red light is on, this constitutes illegal reversing, which may result in a fine. If this causes a rear-end collision, the driver will bear primary responsibility. If the vehicle crosses both the stop line and the pedestrian crossing and reaches the opposite side of the intersection after the red light turns on, this is considered running a red light. Ways to avoid running a red light: Follow arrow signals if available; otherwise, observe the circular light. When the red light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line. When the yellow light is on, the front of the vehicle must not cross the stop line. When the green light starts flashing, if the vehicle is close and moving fast, it should proceed, as braking may not stop it in time to avoid crossing the stop line. If the vehicle is far away, moving slowly, or the intersection is congested, it should stop. When driving in the city, develop the habit of looking for traffic lights whenever approaching a crosswalk, stop line, or intersection.
I've personally witnessed many accident scenes caused by motorcycles running red lights. Last year in our neighborhood, a food delivery rider rushing for time ran a red light and got directly hit by a turning SUV, breaking his leg bone into three pieces. The traffic police determined he was fully at fault, and he had to pay over 80,000 yuan in medical expenses out of pocket. The most frustrating part was that the insurance company didn't cover a single penny because he was seriously violating traffic rules. Nowadays, with so many street cameras, as long as your license plate is captured, the traffic management app 12123 will immediately issue you a ticket - 6 points and 200 yuan fine are unavoidable. If you're unlucky enough to be caught red-handed by traffic police, they'll impound your vehicle on the spot and require you to attend traffic classes. Seriously, don't gamble your life and wallet for those extra ten seconds - wearing a helmet doesn't mean wearing a protective talisman.
Last time my buddy ran a red light on his motorcycle and paid a heavy price. He thought there’d be no cars at the intersection in the early morning, but as soon as he charged through, he crashed into a sanitation truck. Not only did he break his collarbone, but he also had to cough up over 3,000 yuan for the repair bill. When the doctor put on the cast, he was filled with regret—just leaving seven minutes earlier would’ve spared him all this trouble. Now he’s learned his lesson: at every red light, he holds the clutch and counts to ten before taking off. Actually, at some intersections, you can use the right-turn lane to go straight, which is much safer than running the light. Oh, and dashcam footage of violations can now be reported by the public—I once saw a video of a local rider getting exposed in a short clip, and man, was it embarrassing.
