Is it a Violation to Make a U-Turn in a Straight Lane?
3 Answers
Making a U-turn in a straight lane is considered a traffic violation and will result in penalty points. According to Article 49 of the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, violators will be fined and receive two demerit points on their motor vehicle driver's license. Circumstances where U-turns are prohibited include: U-turns are prohibited where there is a 'No U-turn' or 'No Left Turn' sign: If there is a sign prohibiting U-turns, then U-turns are not allowed at that intersection. A U-turn is an extension of a left turn, so if there is a sign prohibiting left turns at an intersection, U-turns are also prohibited there. U-turns are prohibited at crosswalks: U-turns are not allowed at crosswalks. If U-turns are permitted at an intersection, you must cross the crosswalk before making the U-turn; you cannot make the U-turn on the crosswalk. U-turns are prohibited when there is no left-turn lane: Even if you are in the leftmost lane, if there is no sign permitting left turns, U-turns are not allowed. U-turns are prohibited from the second left-turn lane: When a vehicle is in the second left-turn lane, it cannot make a U-turn. In the absence of any signs, vehicles can only make U-turns from the innermost left-turn lane. U-turns are prohibited at solid yellow lines: U-turns are not allowed at solid yellow lines. Even if there is a sign permitting U-turns, you must wait for the green light and cross the stop line before making the U-turn. U-turns are prohibited on highways: Crossing the central divider to make a U-turn on a highway is illegal and will result in a fine and 12 demerit points. If you miss an exit on the highway, continue to the next exit to leave the highway; do not attempt an illegal U-turn.
I remember when I first started driving, a friend of mine made a U-turn directly on a straight lane and got caught by the traffic police on the spot. He was fined 200 yuan and had 3 points deducted from his license. That was really not worth it! According to traffic rules, straight lanes are specifically designed for vehicles to go straight, marked by a solid line, and you can't just turn or make a U-turn there. If you insist on making a U-turn there, it can easily cause a rear-end collision or traffic congestion, especially during rush hours, which is a huge risk. I suggest everyone perform U-turns only in permitted areas, such as intersections or zones with clear signage. It's important to develop the habit of paying attention to road signs, obeying traffic signals and lane markings while driving. This way, you can avoid violations and point deductions, and ensure a safe trip home.
As a novice driver, I also did something foolish. One night, I attempted to make a U-turn on a busy straight-through lane, thinking no one would notice, only to be caught by a traffic camera. The next day, I received a penalty notice with points deducted, and I was really panicked. Now I understand that straight-through lanes are not designed for U-turns. The lane markings clearly guide you to go straight, and messing around can easily lead to violations and point deductions. It's best to only make U-turns where there are designated markings, such as at intersections or in controlled areas with turn signals. Remember, small habits can prevent big troubles, and safety should always come first. Driving is about gradually gaining experience, and paying more attention to road rules makes a big difference.
