Is It Illegal to Make a U-Turn at a Red Light?
3 Answers
Making a U-turn when the U-turn signal light is red is a traffic violation. According to the "Road Traffic Safety Law," it will result in: 6 penalty points and a fine of 200 yuan. If there is no U-turn signal light, and 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. If the gap is marked with a solid line, then the U-turn must cross the pedestrian crossing and is subject to the traffic signal. Making a direct U-turn without adhering to these rules will be considered running a red light and may result in being photographed or penalized by on-site traffic police. When making a U-turn that requires crossing a pedestrian crossing, pedestrians must be given the right of way: If pedestrians are walking on the right side of the pedestrian crossing and have not reached the centerline of the road, vehicles on the left side of the road must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary line of the motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the road, vehicles should slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between the motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians enter the motorized lane (Lane A) along the pedestrian crossing, vehicles in Lane B must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. If vehicles in Lane A do not stop and yield, it is a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians cross the centerline of the road and enter the motorized lane, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. If the road is divided by a green belt and pedestrians are waiting in the central stopping area, vehicles must slow down and proceed only after ensuring safety. Cases where U-turns are allowed: If there is a U-turn sign at the intersection, a U-turn can be made. 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 interfere with other vehicles or pedestrians. If there is no explicit prohibition of U-turns or left turns at the intersection, a U-turn can be made. "No explicit prohibition" means there are no "No U-turn" or "No left turn" signs, and the centerline is not a solid line. U-turns are also allowed on yellow grid lines. Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary parking, important unit entrances, and other necessary locations. Parking on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. However, U-turns are allowed on yellow grid lines if there is no central barrier, as they are equivalent to "U-turn permitted." If there is a U-turn signal light at the intersection, follow the signal light—only proceed on green. If "No left turn" and "U-turn permitted" 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." Precautions 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 U-turn location. If there is a "No left turn" sign ahead, even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection, as 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, a U-turn is not permitted at that intersection. Always yield to straight-moving vehicles when making a U-turn. Proceed only if it does not interfere with their normal flow; otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually have guiding arrows. Not all leftmost lanes have left-turn arrows. If a lane has a straight arrow, even without explicit "No U-turn" signs, U-turns are not allowed.
When it comes to making U-turns at red lights, I’ve personally seen too many drivers get confused by the rules and lose points. The key is to look at the intersection setup: if there’s a dedicated U-turn signal, you must wait for the green light—otherwise, it counts as running a red light. If there’s no signal, check whether there’s a stop line or dashed area in front of your car. I often remind my friends: if you have to make a U-turn on a crosswalk, absolutely don’t! That counts as driving outside the designated lane, and you’ll lose 3 points and 200 RMB in a flash. Another lesser-known rule: making a U-turn in a right-turn lane during a red light is also a violation—many people assume right turns are always unrestricted. After 30 years of driving, here’s my hard-earned advice: even if you see a dashed opening on the left while waiting at a red light before a crosswalk, don’t rush to make a U-turn. You must wait for the go signal. Safety is far more important than saving those few minutes.
As a commuter who drives to work every day, I find left-turn U-turns at red lights the most frustrating. When driving, we need to pay attention to three signs: a green left-turn arrow definitely allows U-turns; never make a U-turn if there's a 'No U-turn' sign; the trickiest are intersections with neither prohibition signs nor dedicated signals. Last week I specifically asked a traffic officer, who reminded me that without an auxiliary 'U-turn permitted on red' sign, it's considered running a red light by default. My usual practice is: at a red light, check the left lane markings – if there's a dashed line area, U-turns are permitted, but never cross the stop line. Also worth noting: making U-turns on pedestrian crossings will get you ticketed for crossing solid lines, which carries heavier penalties than regular traffic violations.
