Should a Car Cross the Pedestrian Crossing When Making a U-turn?
2 Answers
A car should cross the pedestrian crossing when making a U-turn. Although cases of being photographed, fined, or penalized for making a U-turn on a pedestrian crossing are rare, it does not mean this method of U-turn is correct. The regulation requiring vehicles to cross the pedestrian crossing before making a U-turn is to prevent pedestrians or small vehicles from suddenly running a red light or to avoid situations where pedestrians are caught in the middle of the crossing when the light turns red. According to the Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law, motor vehicles are not allowed to make U-turns on pedestrian crossings. However, at intersections without a no-U-turn sign, U-turns are permitted as long as they do not obstruct the normal flow of other vehicles. Some intersections may have yellow solid or dashed lines or gaps before the stop line, allowing U-turns at any time unless there is a no-U-turn sign, provided it does not hinder other vehicles.
I remember when I first started driving, I was always confused about making U-turns. It wasn't until I'd driven tens of thousands of kilometers that I finally understood some things. You can't just cross the zebra crossing to make a U-turn—zebra crossings are pedestrian walkways, and the law gives pedestrians the right of way. Trying to squeeze through there will only get you penalty points or a traffic camera fine. You need to find a safe spot, like an intersection with traffic lights where there's no prohibition sign, or a wide road where you're sure there are no pedestrians or cars blocking the way. Once, I almost brushed against a pedestrian when making a U-turn near a zebra crossing by accident, and it scared me so much my legs went weak. Now, before every turn, I carefully check my surroundings and wait until the traffic light is completely green before moving, just to avoid unnecessary trouble. Also, in big cities, there are surveillance cameras everywhere. If you violate the rules, the system records it automatically, and a 3-point penalty plus a 200-yuan fine is inevitable. It's better to drive a bit farther and make a U-turn properly—it's both safer and less stressful.
