What is the penalty for making a U-turn over a single solid line?
2 Answers
Making a U-turn over a single solid line is a traffic violation. According to Article 90 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, violators who disobey prohibited road markings will be fined 200 yuan and receive 3 penalty points. Generally, on long roads, white solid lines are often present in the middle sections or before intersections. If the lines are yellow dashed or white dashed, U-turns are permitted. However, U-turns are strictly prohibited over any solid lines. Permissible U-turn situations: U-turn allowed at intersections with U-turn signs: If there is a clear U-turn sign at an intersection, a U-turn is permitted. If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow its instructions. If there is no traffic light, make the U-turn based on the specific situation, ensuring it does not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians. U-turn allowed at intersections without explicit no-U-turn or no-left-turn signs: If there are no signs explicitly prohibiting U-turns, they are allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the intersection lacks signs like "No U-turn," "No left turn," or solid center lines, allowing U-turns with confidence. U-turns allowed over yellow grid lines: Yellow grid lines are no-parking zones, typically marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, entrances of important facilities, or other designated areas. Stopping on these lines (including waiting at traffic lights) is a violation. Although parking is prohibited in yellow grid zones, U-turns are permitted as long as there are no central barriers, effectively making them "U-turn allowed" zones. When "No left turn" and "U-turn allowed" signs appear together: U-turns are permitted, but left turns are prohibited. Note that "No U-turn" is not the same as "No left turn." Precautions when making U-turns at intersections: Observe road markings—U-turns are never allowed over solid lines under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable spot. If a "No left turn" sign is present, U-turns are also prohibited at that intersection, even if "No U-turn" is not mentioned, as U-turns inherently involve left-turning movements. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If in the second left-turn lane, U-turns are not permitted at that intersection. Always yield to straight-moving vehicles before making a U-turn. Failure to do so may result in full liability for any accidents. Near intersection stop lines, lanes often have guiding arrows. The leftmost lane may not always have a left-turn arrow—some may have straight arrows. Even without explicit "No U-turn" signs, U-turns are prohibited in such lanes. U-turns must not be made on pedestrian crosswalks, as this is also a violation.
I remember driving a taxi for several years and often saw people getting caught making U-turns over a single solid line. The traffic police said this violates the rule of disobeying prohibitory traffic markings. Once caught by surveillance cameras or on-site enforcement, it results in a 200-yuan fine and 3 demerit points. It might not sound like much, but it adds up and becomes quite troublesome. I once saw a guy who had to retake his driving test because he accumulated too many demerit points—it was time-consuming and exhausting. More importantly, making a U-turn over a single solid line is extremely dangerous, as it can easily block the cars behind you. If it leads to a rear-end collision, the consequences would be far worse. So now, I drive very carefully and always remind myself to follow the rules, taking a few extra steps to make a safe U-turn at an intersection. In fact, the rules are there to protect everyone—don’t take shortcuts and risks just to save time. Navigation apps also remind you not to make illegal U-turns. Just make it a habit, and you’ll save yourself from regret later.