Can you turn left at a straight traffic light?
2 Answers
At a traffic light intersection, you cannot make a turn in the straight lane; you should drive according to the designated lane. Making a U-turn at a traffic light: If there is no prohibition against U-turns on the road section, you can make a U-turn, but only when the left-turn signal is green. For specific details, please see below: 1. According to Article 36 of the 'Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China': Based on road conditions and traffic needs, roads are divided into motor vehicle lanes, non-motor vehicle lanes, and pedestrian walkways. Motor vehicles, non-motor vehicles, and pedestrians should travel in their respective lanes. On road sections without designated motor vehicle lanes, non-motor vehicle lanes, or pedestrian walkways, motor vehicles should travel in the middle of the road, while non-motor vehicles and pedestrians should travel on both sides of the road. 2. Article 37: If a road has a dedicated lane, only specified vehicles are allowed to travel in that lane, and other vehicles are not permitted to enter. 3. Article 49 of the 'Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China': Motor vehicles are not allowed to make U-turns at locations with signs or markings prohibiting U-turns or left turns, as well as at railway crossings, pedestrian crosswalks, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, tunnels, or other dangerous road sections. Motor vehicles can make U-turns at locations without signs or markings prohibiting U-turns or left turns, but they must not obstruct the normal passage of other vehicles and pedestrians.
When I first started driving, I encountered this situation—I thought I could turn left when the straight-through light was green, but I almost got into an accident and was fined by the traffic police. A straight-through traffic light usually refers to a signal with only a straight arrow, and you cannot turn left when it’s green unless there’s a separate left-turn arrow indicating permission. Forcing a left turn can easily lead to collisions with oncoming vehicles or pedestrians, which is extremely risky. I learned my lesson and now always check the type of traffic light and look for any no-left-turn signs at intersections. I recommend new drivers study traffic rules thoroughly or practice on simulation software—safety comes first. For example, there’s an intersection near my home where many new drivers have accidents simply because they didn’t pay attention to the details of the traffic signals.
