Do You Need to Wait for the Traffic Light to Make a U-Turn?

[DiFrank]

When making a U-turn, vehicles must check if there is a U-turn signal light. If there is a U-turn signal light, even if the stop line has not been reached, the U-turn is only allowed after the U-turn signal turns green. If there is no U-turn light at the intersection, pay special attention to the status of the traffic light. If there is no left-turn light and the green light is flashing, you can make a U-turn. If there is a left-turn green light, you must wait until the left-turn green light flashes before making a U-turn; making a U-turn while the straight-through green light is on is not allowed. At some very special intersections, the left-turn light and the main light are inconsistent and will flash alternately. It is also important to note that if the left-turn light is green but the main light is red, U-turns are prohibited. If the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn is not affected by the traffic signal and does not require crossing the pedestrian crossing. There is one situation where you do not need to look at the traffic light: if the vehicle does not need to enter the left-turn lane stop line at the intersection, meaning the U-turn position has not reached the stop line, you can carefully make a U-turn under the premise of ensuring safety. If there are oncoming vehicles, you must yield to them, applying the rule that vehicles on the auxiliary road yield to those on the main road. Never force a U-turn, as it may obstruct the normal driving of oncoming vehicles. Note that U-turns are not allowed on pedestrian crossings. According to Article 49 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China": motor vehicles are not allowed to make U-turns at locations with no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, as well as at railway crossings, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, tunnels, or other dangerous sections of the road. 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 pedestrian crossing have not reached the centerline of the road. Vehicles driving on the left side of the road should slow down and proceed on the basis of ensuring safety, allowing pedestrians to pass. Pedestrians waiting outside the boundary line between the motorized lane and the non-motorized lane. If they have not entered the road, the vehicle should slow down and proceed on the basis of ensuring safety, allowing pedestrians to pass. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between the lane and the non-lane area, vehicles passing without stopping are committing a violation and should be penalized. After pedestrians enter the motorized lane (Lane A) along the pedestrian crossing, vehicles in Lane B should slow down and proceed on the basis of ensuring safety, allowing pedestrians to pass. If vehicles in Lane A pass without stopping, it is a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane. Vehicles passing without stopping are committing a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians crossing the centerline of the road and entering the lane. Vehicles passing without stopping are committing a violation and should be penalized. If the road is divided by a green belt in the middle, and pedestrians are waiting in the parking area in the middle of the road, vehicles must slow down and proceed on the basis of ensuring safety, allowing pedestrians to pass. Situations where U-turns are allowed: If there is a U-turn sign at the intersection: if there is a clear U-turn sign at the intersection, U-turns are allowed. If there is a U-turn signal light, follow the signal light's instructions. If there is no signal light, make the U-turn based on the specific situation, ensuring it does not hinder other vehicles or pedestrians. If there is no explicit prohibition of U-turns or left turns at the intersection: if there is no explicit prohibition of U-turns, U-turns are allowed. Here, "no explicit prohibition of U-turns" means that as long as there are no "no U-turn signs," "no left-turn signs," or solid lines in the middle of the road, you can confidently make a U-turn. U-turns are also allowed on yellow grid lines: yellow grid lines are actually no-parking grid lines marked at intersections prone to temporary parking congestion, important unit entrances, and other locations where they are needed. Any vehicle stopping on the no-parking grid line (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. Although vehicles cannot stop in the yellow grid line area, U-turns are allowed there. As long as there is no central road barrier, the yellow grid line is equivalent to "U-turns allowed." If there is a U-turn signal light at the intersection: this is easy to understand—if there is a U-turn signal light, you must wait for the green light to make a U-turn. If "no left turn" and "U-turn allowed" signs appear simultaneously: U-turns are allowed, but left turns are prohibited. However, "no U-turn" is not equivalent to "no left turn." Things to note when making a U-turn at an intersection: Observe the road markings. If they are solid lines, U-turns are not allowed under any circumstances. Continue driving forward to find a suitable location for a U-turn. If there is a "no left turn" sign ahead, even if there is no mention of prohibiting U-turns, U-turns are not allowed at this intersection because the actions of left turns and U-turns are very similar, and U-turns always involve a left turn first. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If you are in the second left-turn lane, U-turns are not allowed at this intersection. When making a U-turn, always yield to straight-moving vehicles and only proceed if it does not interfere with their normal driving. Otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Generally, near the intersection stop line, lanes are marked with guiding arrows for vehicles to choose their lanes. The leftmost lane is not always marked with a left-turn arrow. On some roads, if there is a straight arrow, even if there are no explicit prohibitions like "no U-turn," U-turns are not allowed.