Do I Need to Wait for the Left Turn Signal to Make a U-Turn?
3 Answers
If there is no U-turn indicator light, and the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn is not affected by the left turn signal and does not require crossing the pedestrian crossing. If the gap is marked with a solid line, then the U-turn must cross the pedestrian crossing and is subject to the left turn signal. Making a direct U-turn without following these rules may result in being photographed by traffic cameras or penalized by on-site traffic police. If you need to cross the pedestrian crossing to make a U-turn, you must yield to pedestrians: When pedestrians are walking on the right side of the crosswalk and have not reached the centerline of the road, vehicles on the left side of the road should slow down and allow them to pass safely. If pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary line of the motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the road, vehicles should slow down and allow them to pass safely. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between the motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles that do not stop to let them pass are committing a traffic violation and should be penalized. When pedestrians enter the motorized lane (Lane A) from the crosswalk, vehicles in Lane B should slow down and allow them to pass safely. If vehicles in Lane A do not stop to let pedestrians pass, it is a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane, vehicles that do not stop to let them pass are committing a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians cross the centerline of the road and enter the motorized lane, vehicles that do not stop to let them pass are committing a violation and should be penalized. When the road is divided by a green belt and pedestrians are waiting in the middle of the road, vehicles must slow down and allow them to pass safely. Scenarios where U-turns are allowed: If there is a U-turn sign at the intersection, you can make a U-turn. If there is a U-turn signal light, follow its instructions. If there is no signal light, make the U-turn without obstructing other vehicles or pedestrians. If the intersection does not explicitly prohibit U-turns or left turns, you can make a U-turn. This means there are no "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn" signs, and the centerline is not solid. U-turns are also allowed in yellow grid zones. While parking in these zones is prohibited, making a U-turn is permitted as long as there is no central barrier. If there is a U-turn signal light at the intersection, you must wait for the green light to make a U-turn. If "No Left Turn" and "U-turn Allowed" signs appear together, U-turns are permitted but left turns are not. Note that "No U-turn" is not the same as "No Left Turn." Precautions when making a U-turn at an intersection: Check the road markings. If they are solid lines, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable spot. If there is a "No Left Turn" sign, U-turns are also prohibited, even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, because U-turns require a left turn maneuver. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If you are in the second left-turn lane, you cannot make a U-turn at that intersection. Always yield to oncoming traffic when making a U-turn. If you interfere with their right of way, you will be held fully responsible for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually have guiding arrows. Not all leftmost lanes have left-turn arrows; some may have straight arrows. Even if there are no explicit "No U-turn" signs, U-turns are not allowed in such lanes.
I've been driving for many years and always try to wait for the left-turn signal to activate before making a U-turn. This is especially important at busy intersections, as waiting for the signal helps avoid conflicts with through traffic and significantly reduces the risk of accidents. If there's no dedicated left-turn signal, I wait for the green light before turning, but make sure there are no prohibitory signs, otherwise it would be a traffic violation. I remember once on a main road, I was in a hurry and made a U-turn without waiting for the signal, nearly colliding with an oncoming vehicle and receiving a 200-yuan fine from the police—a profound lesson. From experience, making a U-turn isn't something you can do whenever you want; you must respect traffic signals and rules to ensure safety and avoid trouble. After developing this habit, my driving has become more stable with fewer incidents.
As a driving instructor, I always remind my students to wait for the left-turn signal before making a U-turn. Traffic signals help synchronize the flow of vehicles, preventing collisions caused by competing for space between U-turning, left-turning, or straight-moving cars. If there is no dedicated left-turn signal at an intersection, complete the U-turn quickly during the green light, but always prioritize maintaining a safe distance and appropriate speed. Novice drivers often act impulsively—I've witnessed many violations and accidents due to drivers proceeding without waiting for the signal, leading to scratches or fines. I recommend practicing such scenarios frequently during training, combining observations of road signs and traffic monitoring systems to adjust behavior, gradually building instinctive safe-driving reflexes.
