Is making a U-turn and turning back on a one-way street considered a traffic violation?
3 Answers
Making a U-turn and turning back on a one-way street is considered a traffic violation. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses" (Order No. 123 of the Ministry of Public Security), motor vehicles violating prohibited line markings include the following situations: 1. Crossing or driving over solid single or double yellow lines during travel. 2. Parking temporarily or for an extended period in no-parking zones. 3. Making U-turns in areas where they are not allowed, or turning left at intersections where left turns are prohibited, all constitute violations of prohibited line markings. Prohibited line markings refer to solid yellow lines on the ground and no-parking signs; driving over them violates the prohibited line markings. 4. Failing to drive in the corresponding lane as indicated by the road markings at intersections also constitutes a violation of prohibited line markings. 5. Reversing, driving in the opposite direction, or making U-turns across the central divider on highways will result in a 12-point penalty.
My last driving experience taught me that making a U-turn on a one-way street is definitely a traffic violation. That day, I was heading home from downtown and got lost, so I attempted to turn around on a very narrow one-way street. As soon as I started the turn, I almost collided with a fast-approaching van behind me. I was terrified. The police arrived quickly and informed me that this behavior violated traffic rules because one-way streets only allow vehicles to move in one direction. A U-turn would instantly make the car go against the flow, significantly increasing the risk of serious accidents. Especially on busy urban roads with dense traffic, such maneuvers are simply unsafe. The officer advised me to only make U-turns in clearly marked permitted zones in the future or to simply drive to an intersection before turning. Otherwise, I could face a fine of over 200 yuan and penalty points. Since then, I’ve never taken such risks again—safe driving always comes first.
As a traffic police officer who frequently deals with accidents, I can say with certainty that making a U-turn on a one-way street is absolutely a traffic violation. Traffic regulations clearly stipulate that one-way streets are designed for a single flow of traffic, and U-turns disrupt normal order, easily leading to rear-end or head-on collisions. I have witnessed several cases where drivers were caught for this behavior, facing fines of 300-500 yuan and 3 demerit points. Even more troublesome is that if an accident occurs as a result, the responsibility lies entirely with the driver. Therefore, I advise everyone not to attempt this recklessly—if you need to turn around, choose a two-way road or an intersection where U-turns are permitted. It’s also important to check road signs before driving to avoid unnecessary trouble.
