Can You Make a U-Turn at a Red Light at an Intersection?
2 Answers
You cannot make a U-turn at a red light at an intersection. Below are the relevant regulations regarding vehicle U-turns: 1. No U-turns allowed: Motor vehicles are prohibited from making U-turns at locations with no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, as well as at railway crossings, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, tunnels, or sections of road prone to danger. 2. Common knowledge concept: At an intersection with a red left-turn light and a green straight light, you cannot make a left-turn U-turn because when the straight light is green, the opposing lane also has a straight light, and making a U-turn would obstruct the normal flow of opposing straight traffic, hence U-turns are not allowed. When the left-turn light turns green, the opposing lane's straight light usually turns red, making it safer to make a U-turn at that time.
Left turn or U-turn at a red light? As a veteran driver with twenty years of experience, I must say: absolutely not! First, it violates traffic rules—fines and points are minor issues, but if an accident happens, the responsibility falls entirely on you. When I was younger, I didn’t believe it and once made a U-turn at a red light at an intersection, nearly getting hit by a truck going straight. That lesson stuck with me for life. Second, urban road signal designs are complex, and intersections are particularly prone to blind-spot collisions. Third, even if some places have special signs allowing right turns on red, U-turns take longer and are slower, making them more likely to cause congestion or accidents. Safety comes first—driving isn’t a race to the grave. Wait patiently for the green light before moving, ensuring your safety and that of others. That’s what a mature driver should do.
