Under what circumstances can you make a U-turn without looking at the traffic light?
2 Answers
Generally, making a U-turn does not require observing the traffic light. However, on roads with lane dividers and guardrails, you must see an "U-turn permitted" sign ahead before making a U-turn. When making a U-turn in front of a traffic light, you need to check whether the left lane is crowded with vehicles and pedestrians waiting for the green light, and only proceed when it is safe to do so. Additional information: When the traffic light is red, you can make a U-turn if the centerline near the intersection is dashed or if there is a U-turn channel in the centerline barrier. If you need to cross the stop line to make a U-turn, you must wait for the left-turn green light to turn on before proceeding.
When you're driving on the road and want to make a U-turn without waiting for traffic lights, there are actually several common scenarios where it's allowed. For example, at locations with dedicated U-turn gaps in the middle, such as safety islands or dashed line areas designed on urban arterial roads, you can simply make a U-turn there without needing to check the intersection traffic lights. The key is to confirm there are no no-U-turn signs and ensure there are no pedestrians or traffic, safety first. Additionally, at some T-intersections or small street junctions without traffic lights, the rule is to yield to other vehicles first, then safely make a U-turn. I remember once driving on a mountain road and seeing such a setup—it was quite convenient without having to stop and waste time. Of course, not every place is this flexible; usually, you still need to obey traffic signals to avoid getting a ticket.
