Is it a violation to make a U-turn over a solid white line?
2 Answers
Making a U-turn over a solid white line is considered a traffic violation. The solid white line in the middle of the road serves as a central dividing line. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," violators will be fined 200 yuan and receive 3 demerit points. On long stretches of road, solid white lines are usually found in the middle sections or before intersections. If the line is a yellow dashed line or a white dashed line, U-turns are permitted. However, U-turns are strictly prohibited over any solid line. Situations where U-turns are allowed: Intersections with U-turn signs: If there is a clear U-turn sign at an intersection, U-turns are permitted. If there is a U-turn traffic light, drivers must follow its instructions. In the absence of a traffic light, U-turns can be made as long as they do not interfere with other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit no-U-turn or no-left-turn signs: If there are no signs explicitly prohibiting U-turns, they are allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the intersection lacks signs like "No U-turn," "No left turn," or a solid central line. In such cases, U-turns are permitted. Yellow grid lines: Yellow grid lines are no-stopping zones, typically marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, entrances/exits of important facilities, or other designated areas. Stopping on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. However, U-turns are allowed in yellow grid zones as long as there is no central barrier. Essentially, yellow grid lines without barriers equate to "U-turn permitted." Intersections with U-turn traffic lights: This is straightforward—if there is a U-turn traffic light, drivers must wait for the green light to proceed. When no-left-turn and U-turn signs coexist: 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 U-turns at intersections: Check road markings: If the line is solid, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Drivers should continue forward to find a suitable spot. If there is a "No left turn" sign: Even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at such intersections because U-turns inherently involve a left turn. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane: If you are in the second left-turn lane, U-turns are not permitted at that intersection. Yield to through traffic: U-turns should only be made when they do not interfere with vehicles going straight. Otherwise, the U-turning driver bears full responsibility for any accidents. Near intersection stop lines, lanes often have guiding arrows. Not all leftmost lanes have left-turn arrows; some may have straight arrows. Even without explicit no-U-turn signs, U-turns are prohibited in such lanes. U-turns on crosswalks are also violations.
I remember a few years ago when I was driving, I made a U-turn at a solid white line on a busy street, thinking it was fine, but I was caught by a traffic officer and fined 200 yuan with points deducted. Solid white lines aren’t drawn randomly—they usually indicate no lane changes or turns, as a U-turn essentially involves crossing lanes. That lesson taught me to behave, and now I only perform U-turns where there are dashed lines or signs specifically allowing it, which helps avoid violations and safety issues. Urban traffic rules are quite strict, and solid lines are often high-risk areas for accidents, such as intersections or blind spots, where forced U-turns can cause collisions. I recommend everyone learn more about traffic signs before driving and develop good habits on the road, avoiding shortcuts for convenience.
