When to Enter the Left-Turn Waiting Zone?
3 Answers
When the straight and left-turn signals ahead are red, vehicles are not allowed to enter the left-turn waiting zone and must wait behind the stop line; otherwise, it will be considered running a red light, resulting in a 6-point penalty. When the straight signal in the same direction turns green, left-turning vehicles can enter the left-turn waiting zone to await the signal to proceed. When the left-turn signal turns green, vehicles waiting in the zone should promptly pass through the intersection. Below is more information about the left-turn waiting zone: 1. The left-turn waiting zone is an area where left-turning vehicles must advance when the straight signal in the same direction turns green, waiting for the signal to change before turning. The left-turn lane is extended by several meters with a white dashed line frame, connecting directly to the middle of the road. These white dashed lines mark the left-turn waiting zone. 2. When the straight signal in the same direction turns green, left-turning vehicles enter the waiting zone in advance. The left-turn waiting zone extends from the original vehicle stop line to the center of the road, with a slight curve at the end and crossing the pedestrian crossing in the middle. At intersections with a left-turn waiting zone, traffic signals follow the rule of straight movement first, followed by left turns.
I see this is a top concern for new drivers! To enter the left-turn waiting zone, you must watch the traffic lights carefully: you can only drive in when the straight-through light turns green. At this time, although the left-turn arrow is still red, stopping in the waiting zone doesn’t count as running a red light. Be careful not to let your car’s front end press against the crosswalk—you must fully enter the dashed-line box with the arrow. Once, I saw someone rushing in during a yellow light and ended up stuck in the middle of the road, which was super dangerous. Remember to check if there’s a sign at the intersection that says 'Enter the waiting zone when the light is green.' During rush hour, following the traffic police’s instructions is more reliable than just watching the lights.
Twenty years of driving experience taught me: The left-turn waiting area is a lifesaver when there's a long queue. Move forward as soon as the straight-ahead light turns green, but don't block oncoming traffic. Once during heavy rain when lane markings were invisible, I slowly followed the car ahead only to realize I'd stopped on the crosswalk. Now I always check the ground arrows first—never wait foolishly at intersections without designated waiting zones. If the left-turn signal turns green while you're still behind the stop line, quickly enter the waiting area to catch the last few seconds.
