Should a U-turn cross the pedestrian crossing?
3 Answers
It depends: If the gap is marked with a solid line, the U-turn must cross the pedestrian crossing and is subject to traffic signals; if the gap is marked with a dashed line, the U-turn does not need to cross the pedestrian crossing and is not affected by traffic signals. In this case, you can make a U-turn directly as long as it does not interfere with other normally moving vehicles and ensures your own safety. If you need to cross the pedestrian crossing to make a U-turn, you must yield to pedestrians: When 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 should slow down and allow them to pass safely. When pedestrians are waiting outside the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes and have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and allow them to pass safely. If pedestrians cross the boundary line between motorized and non-motorized lanes and vehicles do not stop to let them pass, it is a violation and should be penalized. When pedestrians enter the motorized lane from the pedestrian crossing, vehicles should slow down and allow them to pass safely. If a vehicle does not stop to let them pass, it is a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians are waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane and vehicles do not stop to let them pass, it is a violation and should be penalized. If pedestrians cross the centerline of the road and enter the lane, and vehicles do not stop to let them pass, it is a violation and should be penalized. When the road is divided by a median with greenery and pedestrians are waiting in the middle of the road, vehicles must slow down and allow them to pass safely. Cases where U-turns are allowed: If there is a U-turn sign at the intersection, you can make a U-turn. If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow its instructions. If there is no traffic light, make a U-turn only if it does not interfere with other vehicles or pedestrians. If there is no explicit prohibition of U-turns or left turns at the intersection, you can make a U-turn. This means if there are no "No U-turn" or "No Left Turn" signs and the centerline is not solid, you can safely make a U-turn. Yellow grid lines also allow U-turns: Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, important entrances, or other necessary locations. Parking on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. However, U-turns are allowed in yellow grid line areas as long as there is no median barrier—it is equivalent to "U-turn permitted." If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow its instructions—only make a U-turn when the light is 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." Things to note 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, even if there is no explicit "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection because U-turns and left turns are closely related—a U-turn always involves a left turn first. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If you are in the second left-turn lane, you cannot make a U-turn at that intersection. Always yield to oncoming vehicles when making a U-turn. If you interfere with their normal movement, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near the intersection stop line, lanes usually have guiding arrows for drivers to choose the correct lane. The leftmost lane is not always for left turns—if it has a straight arrow, U-turns are not allowed even if there are no explicit prohibitions.
I have extensive driving experience, and situations where I need to cross a crosswalk to make a U-turn are quite common. According to traffic rules, a vehicle's U-turn maneuver must be conducted under the premise of pedestrian safety. If the crosswalk is at an intersection, and there are no signs prohibiting U-turns or red lights, we can slowly drive over the crosswalk to complete the turn. However, it's crucial to first slow down and observe, ensuring no one is currently crossing the crosswalk or approaching it—if there are pedestrians, you must stop immediately and yield. In practice, on busy roads like urban streets, I always signal my turn in advance, visually check both sides for pedestrians, and avoid sudden braking to prevent rear-end collisions. The rules prioritize pedestrian safety, so it's essential to develop good habits: never rush, wait for a safe gap before proceeding. This is vital for both novice and experienced drivers, reducing accident risks and improving urban traffic efficiency.
When I first learned to drive, I found the rules about U-turns and pedestrian crossings quite confusing. My instructor repeatedly emphasized that during a U-turn, you often need to cross pedestrian crossings, but must always prioritize pedestrians. The rules allow us to slowly proceed through crossings when the light is green or there are no prohibitory signs, but only after ensuring pedestrian safety. Every time I approach an intersection preparing for a U-turn, I always scan the crosswalk first - if there are elderly people or children crossing, I make sure to stop and wait. It's best to avoid attempting this maneuver during rainy conditions or at night when visibility is poor, as misjudgments are more likely. I recommend new drivers practice simulated scenarios at driving school training grounds to familiarize themselves with coordinating traffic signals with U-turn techniques, developing safety instincts that will make them more confident on the road.
