Do U-turns require waiting for traffic lights?
4 Answers
If the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn is not affected by traffic signals and does not require crossing the pedestrian crossing. 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. However, if the gap is marked with a solid line, the U-turn must cross the pedestrian crossing and is subject to traffic signals. 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 pedestrian crossing and have not reached the centerline of the road, vehicles on the left side should slow down and proceed safely to allow pedestrians to cross. When pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary of the motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and proceed safely to allow pedestrians to cross. If pedestrians have crossed the boundary between the motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles must stop; otherwise, it is a violation and subject to penalties. When pedestrians have entered the motorized lane (Lane A) along the pedestrian crossing, vehicles in Lane B should slow down and proceed safely. If vehicles in Lane A do not stop, it is a violation and subject to penalties. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane, vehicles must stop; otherwise, it is a violation and subject to penalties. If pedestrians have crossed the centerline of the road and entered the lane, vehicles must stop; otherwise, it is a violation and subject to penalties. When the road is divided by a green belt and pedestrians are waiting in the central stopping area, vehicles must slow down and proceed safely to allow pedestrians to cross. Permissible U-turn scenarios: 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 there are no explicit "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn" signs at the intersection, you can make a U-turn. "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-stopping zones, typically at intersections prone to congestion or near important facilities. While stopping in these zones is prohibited, U-turns are allowed unless there is a central barrier. If there is a U-turn signal light at the intersection, follow its instructions—only proceed when the light is green. If "No Left Turn" and "U-turn Allowed" signs appear together, U-turns are permitted but left turns are prohibited. 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 U-turn location. If there is a "No Left Turn" sign, 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 straight-moving vehicles before making a U-turn. If you interfere with their movement, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, 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.
After driving for so many years, I've found that whether you need to wait for the traffic light when making a U-turn depends on three key situations. The first is when there's a dedicated U-turn arrow at an intersection showing a red light—then you must wait patiently. The second common scenario is at a regular left-turn signal intersection: as long as there's a dashed line or one side of a double yellow line is dashed, you can make a U-turn directly on green, but be extra careful to yield to oncoming straight-moving vehicles. The trickiest is the design where there's a gap behind the stop line—in this case, the U-turn isn't controlled by traffic lights, and you must yield to all vehicles and pedestrians from every direction first. However, always remember that making a U-turn over a crosswalk is a big no-no; even if there's a gap in the double yellow line, you must drive past the crosswalk before turning the steering wheel. Specific rules may vary slightly between cities, so observing road signs carefully while driving is the safest approach.
When obtaining the driver's license, the instructor repeatedly emphasized the U-turn rules: strictly follow the dedicated signal light if there is one. At ordinary intersections, pay close attention to the ground markings - you can make a U-turn when the light turns green as long as it's at a dashed line position. However, be aware of two special situations: at some intersections where the stop line is set unusually far back, you can even U-turn at a red light, but you must check for any no U-turn signs; another case is when there's a U-turn channel in the advanced stop area, you can proceed regardless of the red light after entering. But remember, pedestrians always have the right of way - even when U-turns are permitted, ensure no one is on the crosswalk. The easiest U-turns are at yellow grid-marked intersections in the Central Business District during mornings - you can go directly without checking the traffic light.
Yesterday at that new intersection in the development zone, I encountered this exact confusion. The traffic officer told me the judgment criteria are quite simple: first check if there's a dedicated U-turn red light overhead—if there is, you must wait. If not, look at the road markings; you can make a U-turn at a green light as long as it's not a solid line zone. But there's a detail many overlook: when the left-turn red light is on, if your car has already crossed the stop line, making a U-turn at that moment isn't a violation. Also, be extra cautious at intersections with cameras—even if the markings allow it, your vehicle crossing the pedestrian line could still be photographed. The most hassle-free zones are actually those marked with yellow grid lines; you can make a U-turn directly without waiting for the signal.
