Can You Make a U-turn at Highway Service Areas?
2 Answers
Making a U-turn through the interconnected passages of highway service areas might be possible and not considered a traffic violation, but it is not recommended to attempt it lightly. Below is relevant information about highway service areas: 1. Class I Service Areas: These offer the most comprehensive and high-quality facilities, including gas stations, parking lots, convenience stores, free lounges, restaurants, and auto repair shops. They typically also feature well-equipped accommodations, bathing facilities, and more. Depending on needs and geographical location, some may also include business meeting rooms, logistics storage, cold storage rooms, and tourist leisure areas. 2. Class II Service Areas: Compared to Class I, these have slightly fewer supporting facilities but are more comprehensive than Class III. They provide convenience stores, auto repair shops, restaurants, gas stations, parking lots, and public restrooms. Class II service areas may also include accommodations and bathing facilities in moderate sizes to offer better services for travelers. 3. Class III Service Areas: These only provide the most basic services compared to Class I and II, primarily featuring convenience stores, parking lots, gas stations, public restrooms, and restaurants to meet the most essential and urgent needs of drivers and passengers. Generally, they do not include accommodations or other related service facilities.
A friend asked me about this the other day because he almost reversed at the service area entrance. Always remember, highway service areas are fully enclosed, with welded barriers that make it impossible to make a direct U-turn. If you go the wrong way, even if you reach the opposite service area, you must drive out properly, re-enter the highway, and loop back. I've seen someone try to cross the greenbelt for a U-turn, only to hit a crash cushion, totaling the front bumper and getting fined 2,000 yuan plus 12 penalty points by traffic police. Such actions are not only dangerous but can also cause chain-reaction collisions. The correct approach is: if you realize you're going the wrong way, keep driving forward without hesitation—turning around at the next exit is the right way.
