Under what circumstances are motor vehicles not allowed to make a U-turn at an intersection?

[VanAngelina]

Article 49 of the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulates: Motor vehicles are not allowed to make a U-turn at locations with signs or markings prohibiting U-turns or left turns, as well as at railway crossings, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, tunnels, or sections prone to danger. Motor vehicles can make a U-turn at locations without signs or markings prohibiting U-turns or left turns, but they must not obstruct the normal passage of other vehicles and pedestrians. Here are several situations where U-turns are not allowed: 1. Presence of a "No U-turn" sign The following is the most intuitive "No U-turn" sign. If you see this sign, U-turns are strictly prohibited at this location. 2. "Composite" No U-turn signs, such as the one below. As long as we clearly understand the content, we can drive accordingly. 3. Presence of a "No Left Turn" sign Some intersections have signs prohibiting left turns. If you see this sign, it means U-turns are also prohibited here. Since making a U-turn requires a left turn first, prohibiting left turns inherently prohibits U-turns. 4. The leftmost lane has only a straight arrow If the leftmost lane has only a straight arrow, even if there is no "No U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed. 5. On pedestrian crossings Motor vehicles are not allowed to make U-turns on pedestrian crossings. If a U-turn is permitted at the intersection, it should be made after crossing the pedestrian crossing. 6. Sections with solid center lines U-turns are not allowed at locations with solid lines. You must wait for the green light and cross the stop line before making a U-turn. Otherwise, making a U-turn over a solid line will result in penalties. 7. When the left turn signal is red A red left turn signal not only prohibits left turns but also prohibits U-turns. 8. On highways U-turns are strictly prohibited on highways. Making a U-turn on a highway will result in a 12-point penalty and a fine.

[TeaganFitz]

Having driven for so many years, I'm well aware of the many taboos when it comes to making U-turns at intersections. First, always check for signs. If there's a 'No U-turn' sign, don't force it—I've seen many drivers ignore such signs at urban crossroads and get fined. Second, if the intersection has traffic lights but no dedicated U-turn signal, you can't make a U-turn, especially during a green light, as it disrupts oncoming traffic and increases collision risks. Areas with double solid yellow lines are absolute no-go zones—I once witnessed a friend getting caught by traffic police for making a U-turn there. Railway crossings or bridge approaches are also highly dangerous due to poor visibility; I nearly had an accident once because the area lacked signs but had complex road conditions. Intersections near pedestrian crossings are another no-no, as you might accidentally encounter people crossing the street. In short, safety first—never break the rules.

[DelMaya]

Experienced long-distance drivers know that U-turns at intersections aren't something to be taken lightly. Making a U-turn where left turns are prohibited is equivalent to performing two illegal left turns - I learned this the hard way when getting caught by cameras at such intersections. U-turns at locations with poor visibility like tunnel entrances or during heavy rain/fog carry high risks of rear-end collisions. Additionally, U-turns are strictly prohibited near highway exits as they're designed for one-way traffic - even if it means taking a detour, I avoid the danger of wrong-way driving. Areas around schools also ban U-turns to prevent child accidents. These small rules have helped me avoid tickets while ensuring safety.

[McLena]

As a driver who's often on the road, I've learned there are many scenarios where U-turns at intersections aren't allowed. Areas with 'No U-turn' signs or double yellow lines are absolute no-gos. When intersections are too narrow or have obstacles, I choose less busy sections to make my turn, otherwise the risk of causing traffic jams is high. I keep these points firmly in mind to avoid any mishaps.