Do you need to watch the traffic light when making a U-turn at an intersection?

[LeMarcus]

If the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn is not affected by the traffic light and does not require crossing the crosswalk. You can make a direct U-turn as long as 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 requires crossing the crosswalk and is affected by the traffic light. If you need to cross the crosswalk 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 on the left side of the road should slow down and allow them to pass safely. When pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary line between the motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the road, vehicles should slow down and allow them to pass safely. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between the motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles must stop; otherwise, it is a violation and subject to penalties. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road but have not entered the motorized lane, vehicles must stop; otherwise, it is a violation and subject to penalties. If pedestrians cross the centerline of the road and enter the motorized lane, vehicles must stop; otherwise, it is a violation and subject to penalties. If the road is divided by a green belt and pedestrians are waiting in the middle of the road, vehicles must slow down and allow them to pass safely. Cases 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 light, follow its instructions. If there is no traffic light, make a U-turn only if 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 signs like 'No U-turn' or 'No Left Turn,' and the centerline is not solid. U-turns are also allowed on yellow grid lines. Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones at intersections prone to congestion, entrances of important facilities, etc. Stopping on these lines (even for traffic lights) is a violation. However, U-turns are allowed on yellow grid lines unless there is a center divider. If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow its instructions—only make a U-turn when the light is 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' is not the same as 'No Left Turn.' Things to note 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 spot. If there is a 'No Left Turn' sign, even if there is no 'No U-turn' sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection because U-turns require 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. If you interfere with their movement, you will bear full responsibility for any accident. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually 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 if there are no explicit 'No U-turn' signs.

[JamesonLee]

As a veteran driver with 20 years of experience, I must say that making U-turns at intersections really depends on the specific situation. Nowadays, many urban intersections have dedicated U-turn traffic lights - when you encounter these, you must patiently wait for the green light. If there's no U-turn signal, you generally need to follow the left-turn signal and can only make the U-turn when the left-turn light turns green. However, at some special intersections, there's a U-turn gap before the stop line - in these cases, you can make a U-turn even during a red light, provided you don't interfere with through traffic. My safe driving experience tells me that no matter the situation, you should always check three things: road signs, traffic light displays, and approaching vehicles in your rearview mirror. Especially during nighttime when visibility is poor, it's better to wait through an extra light cycle than to rush those few seconds.

[RyleeLynn]

When I was learning to drive, the instructor repeatedly emphasized that making a U-turn at an intersection must follow the traffic lights! But later, when I started driving on my own, I realized the actual situation is more complicated. At intersections without a dedicated U-turn sign, you basically need to follow the left-turn signal; intersections with a no U-turn sign strictly prohibit turning around; the most troublesome are those intersections that allow left turns but not U-turns—I learned the hard way twice that you must pay attention to the lane direction arrows. New drivers are advised to install a dashcam; in case of unclear situations, you'll have evidence. Additionally, on rainy days, road surface reflections can affect traffic light judgment, so it's best to roll down the window for a clear look before moving.

[LaJourney]

Last time when picking up my child from school, I encountered a typical situation: at the T-intersection near the school gate, there was no left-turn signal, only a circular traffic light. I specifically asked the traffic police officer on duty, and he said that at such intersections, U-turns are allowed during a red light, but you must ensure not to obstruct pedestrians. However, many newly renovated intersections now have safety islands before the stop line, in which case you must wait for the left-turn green light. Actually, the safest approach is to develop a habit: every time you approach an intersection, first scan the surroundings to see if there's a circular red-background no U-turn sign, and then check the status of the traffic signal lights.