A U-turn is permitted over yellow dashed lines when there are no prohibitory U-turn signs and it does not interfere with normal traffic flow. However, U-turns over yellow solid lines are prohibited and constitute a traffic violation. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," violators will be fined 200 yuan and receive 3 demerit points. Typically, on long stretches of roads, solid or dashed white or yellow lines are present in the middle sections or before intersections. U-turns are strictly prohibited over any solid lines. Permissible U-turn scenarios: Intersections with U-turn signs allow U-turns: If an intersection has clear U-turn signage, U-turns are permitted. If there are U-turn traffic signals, follow the signal instructions. In the absence of signals, make the U-turn without obstructing other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit prohibitions on U-turns or left turns allow U-turns: If there are no signs explicitly banning U-turns, they are allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the absence of "No U-turn," "No Left Turn" signs, or solid center lines, making U-turns permissible. U-turns are also allowed over yellow grid lines: Yellow grid lines indicate no-stopping zones at intersections prone to congestion, important entrances, or other designated areas. Stopping on these lines (including at traffic lights) is a violation. While stopping is prohibited, U-turns are allowed over yellow grid lines unless there is a central divider. These lines effectively permit U-turns. Intersections with U-turn traffic signals: This is straightforward—if there is a U-turn signal, proceed only when it is green. When "No Left Turn" and "U-turn Permitted" signs coexist: U-turns are allowed, but left turns are not. Note that "No U-turn" is not the same as "No Left Turn." Key considerations when making a U-turn: Observe road markings—U-turns are never allowed over solid lines under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable U-turn spot. If there is a "No Left Turn" sign, U-turns are also prohibited at that intersection, even if not explicitly stated, as U-turns inherently involve left-turning movements. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. U-turns are not permitted from the second left-turn lane. Always yield to oncoming traffic before making a U-turn to avoid accidents, or you will bear full liability. Near intersection stop lines, lane arrows guide vehicle positioning. Not all leftmost lanes have left-turn arrows; some may have straight arrows, prohibiting U-turns even without explicit signs. U-turns on crosswalks are illegal.
