Do I need to wait for the traffic light when making a U-turn before a crosswalk?
2 Answers
It depends: If the gap is marked with a solid line and the U-turn requires crossing the crosswalk, it is subject to the traffic light; if the gap is marked with a dashed line and the U-turn does not require crossing the crosswalk, it is not affected by the traffic light. In this case, you can make a U-turn directly, provided it does not interfere with other normally moving vehicles and ensures your own safety. If you need to cross the crosswalk to make a U-turn, you must yield to pedestrians: Pedestrians walking on the right side of the crosswalk without reaching the centerline of the road. Vehicles on the left side of the road should slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety before passing 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 proceed cautiously, ensuring safety before passing the crosswalk. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles failing to stop and yield constitute a traffic violation and should be penalized. When pedestrians enter the motorized lane via the crosswalk, vehicles in adjacent lanes must slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety before passing the crosswalk. Failure to stop and yield constitutes a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians waiting at the centerline without entering the motorized lane. Vehicles failing to stop and yield constitute a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians crossing the centerline into the motorized lane. Vehicles failing to stop and yield constitute a violation and should be penalized. Roads divided by green belts. When pedestrians wait in the median area, vehicles must slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety before passing the crosswalk. 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 traffic light, follow its instructions. If there is no traffic light, make a U-turn based on the situation, ensuring it does not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn" signs: If there are no explicit prohibitions, U-turns are allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the absence of "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn" signs and no solid centerline, among other conditions. Yellow grid lines also allow U-turns: Yellow grid lines indicate no-stopping zones at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, important facility entrances, or other designated areas. Stopping on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. However, U-turns are permitted in yellow grid zones unless there is a central barrier. Intersections with U-turn traffic lights: If a U-turn signal is present, follow it—only proceed on green. When "No Left Turn" and "U-turn Allowed" signs coexist: U-turns are permitted, but left turns are prohibited. Note that "No U-turn" does not equate to "No Left Turn." Points to note when making a U-turn at an intersection: Observe road markings. If they are solid lines, 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, 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 straight-moving vehicles before making a U-turn. Failure to do so will result in full liability for any accidents. 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.
I'm speaking from a safety driving perspective. Making a U-turn at a crosswalk indeed requires waiting for the traffic light—it's not just about following rules, but also about saving lives. I've personally witnessed a driver hastily making a U-turn without a green light, only to find pedestrians crossing the road. The brakes couldn't be applied in time, nearly causing a tragedy. Crosswalks are inherently pedestrian-priority zones. If we force a U-turn without waiting for the signal, our view can easily be obstructed, posing significant risks. It's advisable to develop the habit of stopping and observing at such intersections every time, proceeding only when the light turns green. Extra caution is needed during bad weather or at night due to lower visibility, which increases the likelihood of accidents. Safety first is never wrong—a small wait can prevent major trouble.
