A new traffic regulation mandating that running a yellow light costs drivers six points on their license, which went into effect on January 1, has sparked debate. Although the Ministry of Public Security claimed that traffic accidents are declining after the implementation of the new regulation, public opinion did not approve.

The number of cars is increasing in China, but a civil driving culture hasn't developed alongside it. The new regulations are stricter than the old ones, but this is appropriate to the current reality. There are always unhappy people when new regulations are introduced.

The yellow light is ambiguous, as it functions as a transitional signal between green and red. People have got into the habit of seeing it as a green light, and running it instead of slowing down. The new regulations were aimed at such uncivilized behavior.

However, has the new regulation gone too far and ended up treating the yellow light as a red light? At least judged by the words in the new regulation, the yellow light's ambiguity has not been solved.

In fact, this ambiguity cannot be solved. A yellow light is neither a red light nor a green light. It requires us to begin slowing down. If this authority can be strictly accepted by all Chinese drivers, it will be a form of progress.

The new clause about the yellow light is not designed to cause trouble. The question of whether it is too strict needs a long-time to answer. It is irrational and emotional if we hurry to slam it in the first day of its implementation.

Heavy penalties for running a yellow light were not invented by China. Many countries such as South Korea and Singapore do like this. We don't have to swamp it with criticisms.

New traffic regulations are a sign of China's moving forward to a higher level of modern management. Some people oppose it because they are not accustomed to it, some highlight real problems, and some just boycott every government proposal. It is not strange that all these complex opinions are mixed together.

Hopefully, the Ministry of Public Security can earnestly listen to all public opinions in spite of their different motivations. Meanwhile, the Ministry should also collect information on the implementation of the new regulation and make a pragmatic evaluation. In this process, they should avoid on insisting on actions even if they are wrong. They should correct the mistakes, if any.

The implementation of the new traffic regulation is an important detail in China's comprehensive development. No matter the ultimate fate of the yellow light, all citizens support the implementation of the new traffic regulations, because safer and smoother traffic intersections will benefit us all.