Is a U-turn on a left-turn red light considered running a red light?
3 Answers
When the left-turn signal is red and the opposing through traffic has a red light with vehicles stopped, you can safely make a U-turn! If the left-turn signal is red but the opposing traffic has a green light and vehicles are approaching, you may make a U-turn as long as it does not impede the through traffic. This excludes locations with no U-turn signs or U-turn signal lights. However, a more comprehensive explanation is needed. Let’s look at the relevant laws and regulations. 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 a U-turn 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 hazardous sections of the road. Motor vehicles may make a U-turn at locations without no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, provided that it does not obstruct the passage of other normally moving vehicles and pedestrians. The legal provisions are very clear: at locations without no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, a U-turn is permitted as long as it does not hinder other vehicles and pedestrians moving normally.
I recently helped a friend deal with a similar traffic violation, so here's some advice: Whether a U-turn counts as running a red light depends on the specific situation. At a regular intersection, if you must cross the stop line before making a U-turn, then doing so during a red light definitely counts as running a red light, and the traffic cameras will capture three photos as evidence. However, some intersections have dedicated U-turn gaps positioned before the stop line, where making a U-turn during a red light usually doesn’t violate traffic rules. I’ve also seen intersections with signs saying 'U-turn allowed on red,' which obviously means it’s permitted. The worst scenario is encountering unclear lane markings—once, I was caught making a U-turn in a new development zone, and during the appeal, the traffic police reviewed the footage and confirmed the markings were indeed unclear. In short, if you’re ever unsure, it’s safer to wait for the next green light.
When learning to drive, the instructor repeatedly emphasized: U-turn rules are completely different from right turns! At regular intersections, left-turn U-turns must obey traffic lights - making a U-turn during a red light is equivalent to running a red light. However, I've verified two exceptions: one is when there's a gap in the median barrier before the stop line, allowing U-turns without crossing the line; the other is when the intersection clearly displays a sign permitting U-turns during red lights. I remember last week when driving my child to school - at that T-intersection near the school, the left-turn lane had neither U-turn signs nor gaps, yet the car ahead made a U-turn during red light. A few days later, they received a ticket notification. Nowadays, navigation apps are quite smart - like AutoNavi, which gives voice prompts at sections where U-turns are permitted.
