Can You Make a U-Turn on a Solid Yellow Line?
3 Answers
Making a U-turn on a solid yellow line is not allowed and is considered a traffic violation. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," violators will be fined 200 yuan and receive 3 demerit points. On long roads, solid white lines, dashed lines, or solid yellow lines are usually marked in the middle or before intersections. U-turns are prohibited on any solid line. Permissible U-turn situations: U-turn allowed at intersections with U-turn signs: If there is a clear U-turn sign at an intersection, a U-turn is permitted. 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 obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians. U-turn allowed at intersections without explicit no-U-turn or no-left-turn signs: If there is no explicit prohibition, a U-turn is allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the intersection lacks signs like "No U-turn," "No Left Turn," or solid center lines. In such cases, U-turns are permitted. U-turn allowed on yellow grid lines: Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, important facility entrances, or other designated areas. Stopping on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. Although parking is prohibited in yellow grid zones, U-turns are allowed as long as there are no central barriers. Yellow grid lines without barriers are equivalent to "U-turn permitted." U-turn allowed with a U-turn traffic light: This is straightforward—if there is a U-turn traffic light, proceed only when it is green. U-turn allowed when no-left-turn and U-turn signs coexist: U-turns are permitted even if left turns are prohibited. However, "No U-turn" does not mean "No Left Turn." Important notes for U-turns at intersections: Observe road markings. If they are solid lines, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable spot. If a "No Left Turn" sign is present, U-turns are also prohibited, even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, as U-turns involve left-turning movements. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. U-turns are not allowed from the second left-turn lane. Yield to oncoming traffic before making a U-turn. Failure to do so may result in full liability for any accidents. Near intersection stop lines, lanes often have guiding arrows. The leftmost lane may not always have a left-turn arrow. If it has 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.
I remember that after driving for so many years, the most headache-inducing thing is the various road markings. A solid yellow line absolutely must not be used for a U-turn—that's a hard rule in traffic regulations. The solid line is like a wall separating opposing lanes; if you want to make a U-turn, you have to cross it, which is equivalent to putting yourself and oncoming traffic in danger. I’ve personally witnessed accidents where cars making U-turns on solid yellow lines were hit and sent flying. However, there is one exception: if at an intersection with traffic lights, the solid yellow line suddenly changes to a dashed yellow line near the stop line, you can make a U-turn after stopping at the red light. Also, at intersections with dedicated U-turn signals, just follow the signal instructions and you’ll be fine. In short, remember that solid lines are warning lines—don’t challenge them lightly.
When I was a new driver, my instructor repeatedly emphasized: treat solid yellow lines as walls. Making a U-turn over such lines could result in a 3-point deduction and a 200-yuan fine at best, or cause a serious accident at worst. There was a student in our driving school who was immediately failed for forcing a U-turn over a solid yellow line during the test. However, there's a little trick: if you encounter a design where the solid line turns into a dashed line near the stop line at an intersection, making a quick U-turn when there's no oncoming traffic is allowed. But be absolutely careful—it's strictly prohibited before pedestrian crossings; you must proceed beyond the zebra crossing. I recommend paying more attention to road signs while driving. Some sections have blue signs indicating permitted U-turns, and these are the only places where you can perform the maneuver with confidence.
