Will Running a Red Light While Turning Left Always Be Captured?

[Torres]

If there are cameras, the violation will be photographed. Whether a motor vehicle runs a red light while turning left or going straight, it constitutes illegal behavior. According to the relevant provisions of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," vehicles should follow traffic signals, including traffic lights, traffic signs, road markings, and the directions of traffic police. If both the left-turn signal and the straight signal are green, going straight from the left-turn lane violates the regulations. When the left-turn signal is red, running the red light will result in penalties. Article 2, Paragraph 1, Subparagraph 2 of the "Scoring Standards for Road Traffic Safety Violations" stipulates that driving a motor vehicle in violation of traffic signals will result in a 6-point deduction. Here are some ways to avoid running a red light: Check the arrow light first, then the round light: Currently, there are two types of traffic lights: arrow traffic lights and round traffic lights. If there is an arrow light, check the arrow light first and then the round light to avoid running a red light. Note: When encountering a round red light, you can turn right; when encountering an arrow signal light with a red right-turn arrow, you cannot turn right, otherwise, it 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 capture it, and it will be penalized as 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 proceeding. Check the green light countdown before proceeding: When the green light is flashing, if there is a countdown, judge accordingly; if there is no countdown and the vehicle is close to the intersection with high speed, you can proceed to avoid running a red light due to untimely braking. If the speed is slow 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 allowed to proceed, but turning vehicles must not hinder the passage of straight-going 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 hinder the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians. Running a red light is not illegal under the following circumstances: Yielding to special vehicles: Yielding to ambulances, fire trucks, and other special 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 so low that even electronic police cannot clearly see the traffic lights. The photos of the violation may be blurry, and no penalty will be imposed for mistakenly running a red light. Emergency situations: When transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital, running multiple red lights is inevitable, and the 12-point deduction may not suffice. After delivering the patient, provide proof from the hospital or the rescued person to the traffic police for verification. If confirmed, the violation record can be cleared. 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 important intersections. Drivers should follow the gestures of the traffic police.

[DeLaila]

I think running a red light when making a left turn may not necessarily be captured, it mainly depends on the equipment at the specific intersection. With over twenty years of driving experience, I've learned that major intersections in city centers are generally equipped with high-definition cameras. Especially when turning left during a red light, the system can easily detect the movement through induction loops or light-sensing devices, making the chances of being caught quite high. However, in small towns or remote areas, some intersections may lack even basic equipment, offering a chance to get away with it. Other influencing factors include weather conditions: rainy days causing blurry footage or insufficient lighting at night might result in missed captures. Regardless, I always advise against taking the risk—running a red light is too dangerous, and any accident could lead to deep regret. Safe driving is far more important than avoiding a ticket.