Can You Make a U-Turn in the Left-Turn Waiting Area?
3 Answers
You can make a U-turn in the left-turn waiting area. When the left-turn signal is red, if you are the first in line, you should enter the waiting area instead of waiting at the intersection. When the left-turn signal turns green, you can start making the U-turn from the middle of the road. If you are not the first in line, as long as you have passed the pedestrian crosswalk, you can make a U-turn at any dashed line in the left-turn waiting area. Location of the left-turn waiting area: The left-turn lane has an extended white dashed-line box several meters long that connects directly to the middle of the road. These white dashed lines mark the "left-turn waiting area." Scenarios where U-turns are allowed: Intersections with U-turn signs: If there is a clear U-turn sign at the intersection, you can make a U-turn. If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow its instructions. If there is no traffic light, make the U-turn based on the specific situation, ensuring it does not interfere with other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit no-U-turn or no-left-turn signs: If there are no signs explicitly prohibiting U-turns, you can make a U-turn. "No explicit prohibition" means there are no "no U-turn signs," "no left-turn signs," or solid center lines, in which case you can safely make a U-turn. Yellow grid lines also allow U-turns: Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, important entrances, or other designated areas. Parking (including waiting at traffic lights) on yellow grid lines is a violation. Although stopping is prohibited in yellow grid zones, U-turns are allowed there. As long as there are no central barriers, yellow grid lines are equivalent to "U-turn permitted." Intersections with U-turn traffic lights: This is straightforward—if there is a U-turn traffic light, follow it. Only proceed when the light is green. When "no left turn" and "U-turn permitted" signs appear together: U-turns are allowed, but left turns are prohibited. However, "no U-turn" does not mean "no left turn." Things to note when making a U-turn at an intersection: Observe road markings—if they are solid lines, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable spot. 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 because 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, you cannot make a U-turn at that intersection. Always yield to through traffic when making a U-turn. Proceed only if it does not interfere with their normal flow; otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually have guiding arrows for drivers to choose their direction. The leftmost lane does not always have a left-turn arrow—if it has a straight arrow, U-turns are prohibited even without explicit "no U-turn" signs.
It depends on the specific road conditions. I've been driving for ten years, and there's no fixed answer on whether you can make a U-turn in the waiting zone. The key is to pay close attention to the traffic lights and road markings. If there's a 'No U-turn' sign at the intersection, don't attempt it regardless of whether you're in the waiting zone or not. When you enter the waiting zone on a green light, if there's a green arrow pointing left for U-turns ahead, you can usually make a U-turn, but make sure no oncoming straight traffic might hit you. In some cities with narrow roads, the waiting zone is right next to the pedestrian crossing, and forcing a U-turn could easily get you a ticket. I learned this the hard way—last time at a commercial district intersection, I didn’t notice and made a U-turn right after entering the waiting zone, only to be caught on camera crossing the solid line and fined 200 yuan. So, to be safe, it's better to wait for a full green light, pass the stop line, and then proceed—safety first.
It depends on the location. I've driven in both northeastern and southern China, and the rules vary significantly from place to place. Last month in Shenyang, when I entered the left-turn waiting area and was considering whether I could make a U-turn, the taxi behind me honked to urge me on, and the traffic police officer waved to signal that I could make the turn, saying it was fine as long as there was no prohibition sign at that intersection. But in Hangzhou, it's much stricter. If the road only has a left-turn arrow without a U-turn arrow, making a U-turn will definitely cost you points. My personal experience is to first glance around the intersection for double yellow lines or barriers—if there are any, don't even think about it. If not, check the traffic light combination—having a dedicated U-turn green light is the most hassle-free. However, making a U-turn early in the morning when there's little traffic can easily lead to scraping against guardrails—my buddy had to replace his bumper because of that. Just remember, the essence of the waiting area is to queue up for a left turn, not for making random turns.
