Do You Need to Observe Traffic Lights When Making a U-Turn at an Intersection?

[NevaehLee]

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. You can make a U-turn directly, provided it does not interfere with other normally moving vehicles and ensures your own safety. If the gap is marked with a solid line, then 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 crosswalk and have not reached the centerline of the road, vehicles traveling on the left side of the road should slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety while allowing pedestrians to cross. When pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety while allowing pedestrians to cross. If pedestrians have crossed the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes, and vehicles do not stop to let them pass, it constitutes a violation and should be penalized. When pedestrians have entered the motorized lane (Lane A) via the crosswalk, vehicles in Lane B should slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety while allowing pedestrians to cross. If vehicles in Lane A do not stop to let pedestrians pass, it constitutes a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane, and vehicles do not stop to let them pass, it constitutes a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians have crossed the centerline of the road and entered the motorized lane, and vehicles do not stop to let them pass, it constitutes a violation and should be penalized. When the road is divided by a median with greenery, and pedestrians are waiting in the median area, vehicles must slow down and proceed cautiously, ensuring safety while allowing pedestrians to cross. 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 traffic signal, you must follow the signal's instructions. If there is no signal, you can make a U-turn based on the specific situation, provided it does not interfere with other vehicles or pedestrians. If there is no explicit prohibition of U-turns or left turns 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. In such cases, you can confidently make a U-turn. U-turns are also allowed on yellow grid lines. Yellow grid lines are no-stopping zones typically marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary parking, important facility entrances, or other critical locations. Stopping on these lines (including waiting for traffic signals) is a violation. Although vehicles cannot stop in yellow grid zones, they are allowed to make U-turns there. As long as there is no central barrier, yellow grid lines are equivalent to "U-turns permitted." If there is a U-turn traffic signal at the intersection, you must follow it—only proceed on green. If "No Left Turn" and "U-Turn Permitted" signs appear together, U-turns are allowed but left turns are prohibited. However, "No U-Turn" does not necessarily mean "No Left Turn." Things to note 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 and left turns are closely related—a U-turn typically requires a left turn first. 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. Proceed only if it does not interfere with their normal movement; otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually have guiding arrows indicating permitted movements. The leftmost lane is not always for left turns only. If it has a straight arrow, even without explicit "No U-Turn" signs, U-turns are not allowed.