Should You Press the Accelerator When Making a U-Turn?
2 Answers
You do not need to press the accelerator when making a U-turn. This is because you need to slow down at this time to better ensure driving safety. Conditions under which U-turns are allowed are as follows: Presence of U-turn signals or signs: When there is a U-turn signal at an intersection, you can make a U-turn when the U-turn indicator light is green. If there is a U-turn sign or a U-turn indicator on the lane, you can make a U-turn while ensuring your own and others' safety. No U-turn sign but left turns are allowed (no prohibition of U-turn signs): Vehicles can make a U-turn at intersections where left turns are allowed and there are no signs or markings prohibiting U-turns. It is important to note that vehicles must proceed according to the left-turn lane signal without affecting the normal driving of other vehicles. If making a U-turn at an intersection with a left-turn waiting area, you can first enter the left-turn waiting area when the straight-ahead light is green and wait until the left-turn light turns green before making the U-turn. U-turns are allowed at dashed lines: Whether it is a white dashed line or a yellow dashed line, U-turns are allowed. If it is a double yellow line with one solid and one dashed, check if your side is the dashed line. If it is, you can make a U-turn safely; if it is a solid line, you cannot make a U-turn. If you encounter a double yellow line at an intersection, you can make a U-turn on the dashed side, but you must not cross the stop line ahead. U-turns are allowed at yellow grid lines: Parking is prohibited in yellow grid line areas, but as long as there is no central barrier, you can make a U-turn here after yielding to normally moving vehicles. U-turns are allowed on the dashed side of a green belt: When the front of the green belt is a dashed line, vehicles on that side can make a U-turn from there. When the front of the green belt is a solid line, vehicles must obey the traffic signal, cross the zebra crossing, and then make a U-turn. It is prohibited to make a U-turn by crossing the solid line or the zebra crossing. Precautions for making a U-turn: When making a U-turn, you should turn on the left turn signal in advance, and the maximum driving speed must not exceed 30 kilometers per hour. Do not hinder other vehicles and pedestrians moving normally.
I've been driving for over a decade, and whether to step on the accelerator during a U-turn depends on the situation. Most of the time, it's better not to, because U-turns require low-speed control of the vehicle. If the speed is too high, the turning radius increases, making it easy to run off the road or collide with oncoming vehicles. From my experience, maintaining idle speed or lightly tapping the accelerator is sufficient—keep an automatic transmission in D gear and a manual transmission in first gear with the clutch half-engaged. If the car lacks power, gently add a bit of throttle to stabilize it, but don’t accelerate. Road conditions are key: be especially cautious on rainy or slippery surfaces, as pressing the accelerator too hard can cause the tail to slide; at intersections, always check traffic signals and pedestrians first, ensuring safety before moving. Practice a few times to get used to it—taking it slow is the safest approach.
