Can You Make a U-Turn on a Single Solid Line?
2 Answers
Making a U-turn on a single solid line is not allowed and constitutes a traffic violation. According to Article 49 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, violators will be penalized with a 3-point deduction. Generally, on long roads, white solid lines are present in the middle sections or before intersections. U-turns are permitted on yellow dashed lines or white dashed lines, but any solid line prohibits U-turns. Permissible U-turn situations: Intersections with U-turn signs allow U-turns: If there is a clear U-turn sign at an intersection, U-turns are permitted. If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow its instructions. In the absence of a traffic light, U-turns can be made based on specific circumstances, provided they do not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit no-U-turn or no-left-turn signs allow U-turns: If a location is not explicitly marked as prohibiting U-turns, they are allowed. "Not explicitly prohibiting U-turns" means the intersection lacks "no-U-turn signs," "no-left-turn signs," or solid center lines, allowing confident U-turns. Yellow grid lines also permit U-turns: Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, entrances/exits of important facilities, or other designated areas. Stopping on these lines (including waiting at traffic lights) is a violation. Although parking is prohibited in yellow grid zones, U-turns are allowed. Unless there is a central barrier, yellow grid lines are equivalent to "U-turn permitted." Intersections with U-turn traffic lights: This is straightforward—if a U-turn light is present, proceed only when it is green. Simultaneous no-left-turn and U-turn-permitted signs: U-turns are allowed even if left turns are prohibited, but "no U-turn" does not equate to "no left turn." Points to note when making U-turns at intersections: Observe road markings. If solid lines are present, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable U-turn spot. If a "no left turn" sign is posted ahead, U-turns are also prohibited at that intersection, even if not explicitly stated, as U-turns inherently involve left turns. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. Attempting a U-turn from the second left-turn lane is not permitted. Always yield to straight-moving vehicles. U-turns should not interfere with their normal flow, or you will bear full accident liability. Near intersection stop lines, lanes often have guiding arrows. The leftmost lane may not always have a left-turn arrow; if it shows a straight arrow, U-turns are prohibited even without explicit no-U-turn signs. U-turns on crosswalks are illegal and constitute a traffic violation.
As a veteran driver with over 20 years of experience, I can tell you straight up that you'd better not make a U-turn when encountering a single solid line. I remember one time on a busy road, the car in front suddenly slowed down, and I thought about making a U-turn at the solid line. But halfway through the turn, I got caught by the police—three points deducted and a 200-yuan fine. Later, I learned that a single solid line is a no-crossing lane marker. Making a U-turn would definitely mean crossing the line, which not only violates traffic rules but is also extremely dangerous, as it could lead to a collision with oncoming traffic. Since then, I've learned my lesson—if I need to turn around, I wait until I reach a dashed line or a permitted sign, or simply find a safe intersection to make the turn. After all these years of driving, my biggest takeaway is that safety comes first—don't take risks just for convenience.
