In 2001, Grand Theft Auto III included a mechanic where running a red light would cause a one-star wanted level. The development team eventually decided to remove this feature since it was intended to add realism by forcing traffic laws to be adhered to. Speaking to Vice, a former Rockstar developer, Obbe Vermeij, explained that the feature had been nixed because it proved to be unpopular and would have interrupted the flow of the game.

GTA III's traffic system was already far detailed, as there were lights that cycled through phases, and AI drivers respected them. The game made the vehicles obey traffic lights even if they were destroyed. While the system was fine, it was frustrating to players to enforce penalties for little infractions like running red lights. Assuming that high speed chases and reckless driving are important parts of the GTA identity, penalizing traffic violations obviously would have been unnecessary.

In the 2002 game Mafia, a similar approach was used to enforce traffic laws and speed limits. Although it was fitting Mafia's slower, more realistic world, GTA III was designed to be fast-paced and chaotic. The free-form style of the game would have been interfered with by a constant stream of low-level police chases for traffic violations. Since deleting the red-light penalty, Rockstar wanted players to not be constantly on the lookout for minute infractions and to concentrate on action and exploration.

FAQs

Did GTA III used to penalize players for running red lights?

Yes, it was planned for a one star wanted level but removed before release.

Why was the feature removed?

It was thought to be too disruptive to the gameplay experience.

Did GTA III’s AI follow traffic rules?

AI drivers obeyed signals even if lights were destroyed.

Did other games enforce traffic laws?

Yes, players did have to follow the traffic rules in Mafia.