Will Running a Red Light Result in Points Deduction?

[DiDawson]

According to Article 2, Section 1, Clause 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 per offense. 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 proceed. Article 26 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law' states: Traffic signals consist of red, green, and yellow lights. A red light indicates prohibition of passage, a green light indicates permission to proceed, and a yellow light serves as a warning. Article 44: When passing through an intersection, motor vehicles must comply with traffic signals, signs, markings, or the direction 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 traffic lights: arrow traffic lights and circular traffic lights. When arrow lights are present, first check 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, ensure the front of the vehicle does not cross the stop line. If the front wheels accidentally cross, and the rear wheels follow, the electronic camera will capture the violation, resulting in a penalty for running a red light. If the front wheels have just crossed the stop line when the light turns red, passage through the intersection is prohibited. 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 judge whether to proceed. If there is no countdown, and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, it may proceed to avoid running a red light due to delayed braking. If the speed is low and the vehicle is far from the intersection, 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: When the green light is on, vehicles are permitted to proceed, but turning vehicles must not impede 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 crosswalk signals, non-motor vehicles and pedestrians must follow the motor vehicle signal lights. When the red light is on, right-turning vehicles may proceed if they do not impede the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Running a red light is not considered illegal 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, you can apply for reconsideration at the traffic police department. Extreme weather: When visibility is extremely low, making it difficult for electronic police to clearly see the traffic lights, the evidence of violation may be blurred. In such cases, accidental running of a red light will not be penalized. Emergency situations: When transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital, running multiple red lights may be unavoidable. After delivering the patient, provide proof from the hospital or the person assisted to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation records can 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 key intersections. Drivers must follow the gestures of the traffic police.

[VonJeffrey]

Running a red light caught on camera definitely means penalty points, and I know this from personal experience. Last year on a rainy day, I was in a hurry to pick up my child and accelerated when the yellow light flashed, only to be photographed as the light turned red. Within days, I received a notice—6 points deducted from my license and a 200-yuan fine. Those electronic police cameras are incredibly sharp: the red light triggers sensors that automatically photograph your license plate and record the time, with the system directly processing the violation and issuing a ticket. Points accumulate quickly, and with only 12 points total per year, one red-light run costs you half. If you lose all your points, you’ll have to retake the driving test, which is a huge hassle. So I suggest everyone drive carefully—slow down when the green light is about to end and wait, unlike my reckless move that day. Safe driving saves points, which is much more cost-effective. Also, checking the 12123 app regularly for violation notices saves trouble.