Is it 'U-turn' or 'Turn around' for cars?

[OLevi]

For vehicles, both 'U-turn' and 'Turn around' are acceptable. 'U-turn' and 'Turn around' can be used interchangeably. These two terms have similar meanings, both referring to turning back or changing direction, and can be substituted for each other. Below are some techniques for making a U-turn with a car: 1. Single-motion U-turn: On wider roads, it is advisable to use a large, smooth single-motion U-turn whenever possible. This method is quick, convenient, economical, and safe. If in an area with traffic control personnel, first signal your intention to make a U-turn, wait for permission and acknowledgment from the personnel, then reduce speed, shift to a lower gear, sound the horn, and proceed slowly to complete the U-turn. 2. Combination of forward and reverse U-turn: If the road is too narrow for a single-motion U-turn, you can use a combination of forward and reverse movements to complete the turn. When making a U-turn, choose an appropriate location, signal a left turn, and slowly drive the vehicle to one side of the road, turning the steering wheel fully to the left. When the front wheels are close to the roadside or the front of the vehicle approaches an obstacle, depress the clutch, gently apply the brake, and before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, quickly turn the steering wheel fully to the right to direct the front wheels toward the new direction needed for reversing. Immediately bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

[DelMaverick]

I remember when I was learning to drive, the instructor repeatedly emphasized getting these two words right. 'U-turn' is the standard term in traffic regulations, referring to a 180-degree turn of the vehicle. All traffic signs say 'U-turn permitted' or 'No U-turn', and this is the wording you must use in exam answers. 'Turn around' is a misspelling, although some southern regions might pronounce it that way. The other day at an intersection, I saw a car trying to make a turn and getting pulled over by traffic police—the citation clearly stated 'illegal U-turn'. After driving for over a decade, I've never seen 'turn around' on a ticket or in navigation prompts.

[StDamian]

When teaching children to recognize traffic signs, I paid special attention to this detail. The blue circular signs with curved arrows always have the words 'U-turn' written below them, and this term is uniformly used in driving test materials. Last week, a community traffic officer gave a safety lecture and specifically mentioned the writing standard: 'U-turn refers to a vehicle turning back to its original direction, while 'turn around' is a dialectal misuse.' Even the standard answers in the DMV theory test questions only recognize 'U-turn,' such as in the question stem 'When making a U-turn on a narrow bridge in rainy weather, the hazard warning lights must be turned on.' So when driving on the road, remember that all official documents and road signs use 'U-turn.'

[VanFrank]

Having processed too many traffic accident determination documents, the wording standards are particularly strict. 'Vehicle U-turn' is the only legally valid expression in official documents, while 'turn around' is absolutely considered a typo in archival records. Once, a car owner was dissatisfied with the verdict and brought an appeal written as 'turn around,' which was directly rejected by the counter and required to be corrected. Article 59 of the Traffic Law states 'no U-turn zones,' and all local regulations replicate this wording. It is recommended that everyone uses 'U-turn' when filing complaints or insurance claims to avoid disputes caused by typos.