Traffic light confusion for Chinese motorists after city raises Lunar New Year red lanterns

Motorists are angry after confusing hundreds of thousands of Lunar New Year red lanterns for traffic lights in one Chinese city.

The traditional decorations in Xian, in Shaanxi province, led to a wave of online complaints, the sxdaily.com.cn news website reported.

One local driver claimed he was distracted by the red lanterns and failed to stop at traffic lights, which had led to him losing all 12 points on his driving licence, the Huashang Daily reported.

The city’s traffic police said on the force’s official weibo account that it had inspected all the lanterns and found that clocks displayed next to traffic lights, which count down the time drivers have to wait, were all still clearly visible.

“Hopefully drivers will not pay too much attention to the lovely decorations,” the police wrote.