Can You Make a U-Turn at a Red Light?

[Hazel]

If the U-turn signal is red, you must wait to make a U-turn; otherwise, it will be considered running a red light. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," this offense carries a penalty of 6 demerit points and a fine of 200 yuan. If there is no U-turn signal, and the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn is not affected by traffic signals and does not require crossing the pedestrian crossing. However, if the gap is marked with a solid line, the U-turn must cross the pedestrian crossing and is subject to the left-turn signal. Making a direct U-turn may result in being photographed or penalized by on-site traffic police. When making a U-turn that requires crossing the pedestrian crossing, you must yield to pedestrians: If pedestrians are walking on the right side of the crosswalk and have not reached the centerline of the road, vehicles on the left side of the road must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary of the motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If pedestrians cross the boundary between the motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians enter the motorized lane (Lane A) from the crosswalk, vehicles in Lane B must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. Vehicles in Lane A that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians cross the centerline of the road and enter the motorized lane, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If the road is divided by a green belt and pedestrians are waiting in the central stopping area, vehicles must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. Circumstances where U-turns are allowed: If an intersection has a U-turn sign, you can make a U-turn. If there is a U-turn signal light, you must follow its instructions. If there is no signal light, you can make a U-turn as long as it does not interfere with other vehicles or pedestrians. If an intersection does not explicitly prohibit U-turns or left turns, you can make a U-turn. "No explicit prohibition" means there are no signs like "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn," and the centerline is not solid. U-turns are also allowed in yellow grid zones. Yellow grid lines indicate no-stopping zones, often placed at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops. While vehicles cannot stop in these zones, they are allowed to make U-turns if there is no central barrier. If an intersection has a U-turn signal light, you must follow it—only proceed if it is green. If a "No Left Turn" sign appears alongside a "U-turn allowed" sign, U-turns are permitted, but left turns are not. Note that "No U-turn" does not necessarily mean "No Left Turn." Precautions when making a U-turn at an intersection: Check the road markings. If they are solid lines, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable location. If there is a "No Left Turn" sign, even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection, as U-turns inherently involve a left turn. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If you are in the second left-turn lane, U-turns are not permitted at that intersection. Always yield to straight-moving vehicles before making a U-turn. Failing to do so may result in bearing full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes often have guiding arrows. Not all leftmost lanes have left-turn arrows—some may have straight arrows. Even if there are no explicit "No U-turn" signs, U-turns are not allowed in such lanes.