Do I need to wait for the red light to make a U-turn at a designated area?

[DeKimberly]

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 light 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 light. Making a direct U-turn may result in being photographed 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: Pedestrians walking on the right side of the road's crosswalk, not reaching the centerline of the road. Vehicles driving on the left side of the road should slow down and ensure safety before proceeding through the crosswalk. Pedestrians waiting outside the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes. If they have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and ensure safety before proceeding through the crosswalk. When pedestrians cross the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. When pedestrians enter the motorized lane along the crosswalk, the motorized vehicle should slow down and ensure safety before proceeding through the crosswalk. If the vehicle does not stop and yield, it is committing a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane. If vehicles do not stop and yield, it is a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians crossing the centerline of the road and entering the lane. If vehicles do not stop and yield, it is a violation and should be penalized. When the road is divided by a green belt, pedestrians waiting in the middle of the road must be yielded to. Vehicles should slow down and ensure safety before proceeding through the crosswalk. 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 based on the specific situation without obstructing other vehicles or pedestrians. If there is no explicit prohibition of U-turns or left turns at the intersection, U-turns are allowed. "No explicit prohibition" 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. Yellow grid lines indicate no-parking zones at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops. While vehicles cannot stop in these zones, they can make U-turns if there is no central barrier. If there is a U-turn signal light at the intersection, follow it—only proceed on green. If "No Left Turn" and "U-turn Allowed" signs appear together, U-turns are allowed, but left turns are prohibited. Note that "No U-turn" does not mean "No Left Turn." Precautions when making a U-turn at an intersection: Observe road markings. If the line is solid, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable U-turn location. If there is a "No Left Turn" sign ahead, even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection because U-turns inherently involve a left turn. 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 vehicles going straight before making a U-turn. If you interfere with straight-moving traffic, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually have guiding arrows. The leftmost lane is not always a left-turn lane. If it has a straight arrow, U-turns are prohibited even if there are no explicit "No U-turn" signs.

[AdrianaDella]

Having driven for many years, I often make U-turns at intersections with dedicated waiting areas, but honestly, you should never do this when the light is red. The waiting area is designed for vehicles to enter when the straight-going light turns green, waiting for the left-turn signal. A U-turn is also considered a type of turn and must follow the same rules. A red light means there might be vehicles or pedestrians coming from other directions, and forcing a U-turn can easily lead to collisions with straight-going traffic or pedestrians—it's extremely dangerous. I once witnessed a similar accident at an intersection in Beijing where a car ran a red light to make a U-turn and got hit by a taxi, resulting in serious injuries for both parties. Traffic laws stipulate a fine of 200 yuan and 6 penalty points for running a red light, and cameras catch this every time. That's why I always patiently wait for the green light before making a move—not only is safety the top priority, but it also saves me from fines. After forming this habit, I no longer feel the rush to hurry.

[GraceFitz]

Back when I just got my driver's license, I naively thought it would be fine to make a U-turn in the advanced stop line area when the light was red. My first attempt earned me a ticket though—the traffic officer explained that the advanced stop line is only for entering when the straight-ahead signal is green, and you must wait for the left-turn green light to make a U-turn. Entering on red is a violation, equivalent to running a red light with high risks. Now I've learned my lesson—I always check for signs saying 'U-turn permitted on red' before attempting one. Without such signs, I wouldn't dare. New drivers often make this mistake out of impatience to save time, but waiting through a red light only costs dozens of seconds for much greater safety. I remember a post last month where someone bragged about running a red light in a video and got cyberbullied—a perfect example of what not to do.

[BrynleeAnn]

From the perspective of traffic rules, performing a U-turn in the advanced stop line area is not allowed during a red light. The advanced stop line is a buffer zone specifically designed for left-turning vehicles, permitting entry only when the straight-through signal turns green, with the actual left turn executed upon the left-turn arrow turning green. Essentially, a U-turn is an extension of a turn, thus requiring adherence to the same signal rules. A red light signifies a prohibition for all vehicles to enter the intersection area to prevent conflicts. Exceptions apply only if there's explicit signage at the intersection stating that U-turns are permitted during a red light. Generally, such signs are rare in urban areas, so it's advisable to wait for the green light by default to maintain order and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

[DeRobert]

On the road, I always believe safety comes first, and I never make a U-turn at a red light in the waiting zone. There might still be vehicles moving from other directions, and if you suddenly cut in, the consequences could be severe—not just fines and points, but also serious personal injuries. When driving, I remind myself that a few seconds of patience won't hurt, and safe driving habits start with small things. Rules like these at intersections are designed to ensure orderly traffic flow—don't risk it just to save time. If a friend asks, I'd advise them to check for any special signs at the intersection. If there aren't any, just wait patiently for the green light before proceeding.

[StJude]

I've driven through many such intersections in daily life, and the general strategy is that you absolutely cannot make a U-turn into the waiting zone during a red light. You must first wait for the straight green light to enter the zone, then wait for the left turn green light to complete the maneuver. If there's a sign at the intersection saying 'U-turn permitted on red,' then you can do it, but such signs are rare. Without any signage, it's default prohibited to avoid accidents. I once tried it at a pilot intersection in Shanghai with such a sign, and it was okay, but overall, waiting for the light is the safest. Don't be tempted when the waiting zone is empty—once you violate the rules, the fine of several hundred yuan and points deduction are not worth it, wasting even more time. Nowadays, smartphone navigation has reminder functions, which I often use to assist in judgment and avoid making confused decisions.