Can You Make a U-Turn When the Light is Red?

[LeBrooklyn]

If the U-turn signal is red, you must wait to make a U-turn; otherwise, it will be considered running a red light. According to the Road Traffic Safety Law, this offense carries a penalty of 6 demerit points and a fine of 200 yuan. If there is no U-turn signal, and the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn is not affected by the traffic light and does not require crossing the pedestrian crossing. If the gap is marked with a solid line, the U-turn must cross the pedestrian crossing and is subject to the left-turn signal. Making a U-turn directly may result in being photographed or penalized by on-site traffic police. When making a U-turn that requires crossing the pedestrian crossing, you must yield to pedestrians: Pedestrians walking on the right side of the crosswalk who have not reached the centerline of the road. Vehicles on the left side of the road should slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. Pedestrians waiting outside the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes. If they have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles failing to stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. When pedestrians enter the motorized lane (Lane A) via the crosswalk, vehicles in Lane B should slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If vehicles in Lane A fail to stop and yield, it is a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane. Vehicles failing to stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians crossing the centerline of the road and entering the motorized lane. Vehicles failing to stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If the road is divided by a green belt, vehicles must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety when pedestrians are waiting in the central stopping area. Cases where U-turns are allowed: Intersections with U-turn signs: If there is a clear U-turn sign at the intersection, a U-turn is permitted. If there is a U-turn signal light, follow its instructions. If there is no signal light, make the U-turn based on the specific situation, ensuring it does not hinder other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit prohibitions: If there are no signs prohibiting U-turns or left turns, a U-turn is allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the intersection lacks signs like "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn," and the centerline is not solid. Yellow grid lines: Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, important entrances, etc. Stopping on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. However, U-turns are allowed in yellow grid line areas unless there is a central barrier. Yellow grid lines without barriers are equivalent to "U-turn permitted." Intersections with U-turn signal lights: If there is a U-turn signal light, follow it—only proceed on green. Signs prohibiting left turns but allowing U-turns: U-turns are permitted even if left turns are prohibited, but "No U-turn" does not mean "No Left Turn." Precautions when making U-turns at intersections: Check road markings: If the line is solid, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable U-turn spot. If there is a "No Left Turn" sign, even without a "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection because U-turns inherently involve left turns. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If you are in the second left-turn lane, U-turns are not permitted at that intersection. Always yield to oncoming traffic when making a U-turn. Proceed only if it does not interfere with their right of way; otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for any accident. 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.