Will running a yellow light result in penalty points?
2 Answers
When the yellow light is on, if the vehicle has already crossed the stop line, it can continue to drive. Running a yellow light in this situation will not result in penalty points, and stopping in the middle will also not incur any penalties. Six situations involving running traffic lights: Stopping immediately after crossing the line at a red light; Running a red light under the direction of traffic police; The entire vehicle body crosses the line and stops at a red light; Reversing after stopping beyond the line; "Accidentally" running a red light when following a large vehicle; Passing through an intersection by running a yellow light. Criteria for running a red light: According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, if the vehicle has already crossed the line when the yellow light is on and continues to drive, it is not considered running a red light and generally will not be captured by cameras. If the vehicle has already crossed the line when the red light is on and waits for the green light, this behavior is generally not considered running a red light. However, if only the front of the vehicle has passed while the body crosses the line at the moment the red light turns on, it is considered running a red light. One type is the induction line: as long as two-thirds of the vehicle's weight has crossed the line before the red light turns on, it is not considered running a red light because only one-third of the vehicle's weight crosses the line when the red light is on, which does not meet the weight requirement for the induction line, so it will not be captured. Otherwise, it is considered running a red light.
The other day I was waiting at a red light when I saw someone running a yellow light and almost causing an accident. From my experience, running a yellow light doesn't necessarily result in penalty points directly, but it depends on the situation. A yellow light is a warning signal, indicating that the red light is about to come on, and you should prepare to stop. If you could stop safely within a reasonable distance but choose to accelerate through instead, and the red light turns on before you fully exit the intersection, getting caught by traffic cameras or police, it's considered running a red light—usually resulting in 6 penalty points plus a fine. Like what I often see on Beijing streets, some people are used to forcing their way through, which is very dangerous and can easily cause rear-end collisions. My advice is, whenever you see a yellow light, slow down and assess the situation first—stop if you can, don't take the risk. After all, penalty points are minor compared to causing an accident. Paying attention to signal changes and developing good habits can save you a lot of trouble.
