Which traffic light to observe when making a U-turn on the auxiliary lane?
3 Answers
You should observe the traffic light in the opposite direction rather than the one directly ahead. Below is relevant information about auxiliary lanes: 1. Overview: There are mainly two construction modes for expressways: one is to retain the old road while building a new route; the other is to upgrade or fully utilize the original old road and construct auxiliary lanes on both sides. For expressways that upgrade or fully utilize the original old road, auxiliary lanes are built on both sides to ensure smooth local traffic flow or to maintain traffic continuity when the expressway is interrupted. 2. Design characteristics of auxiliary lanes: For sections generally not constrained by terrain or obstacles, auxiliary lanes are built parallel to the main route, making the design relatively simple. However, special sections such as interchanges, areas with difficult lateral connections, and urban bypass segments require careful consideration.
A few days ago, I encountered this exact issue when driving through a complex intersection. The most crucial thing when making a U-turn from the auxiliary lane is to observe the traffic light above your head, as it controls the right of way for auxiliary lane vehicles. If there's a dedicated left-turn arrow signal for the auxiliary lane, you must wait for it to turn green before making the U-turn. However, in some older urban areas where auxiliary lanes lack independent traffic signals, you'll need to check the status of the main road's left-turn signal—but be extra cautious of vehicles going straight on the main road. In actual driving, I always slow down 50 meters in advance to observe the signal light positions while checking mirrors for sudden bicycle appearances. According to traffic regulations, crossing the stop line for a U-turn during a red light on the auxiliary lane counts as running a red light, which costs 6 penalty points. I recommend that novice drivers follow the lead vehicle's actions when encountering unfamiliar intersections to avoid misjudgment.
Having driven for over a decade, I have firsthand experience with U-turns on auxiliary lanes. Here's the conclusion: 100% follow the auxiliary lane's own traffic light! Only refer to the main road's left-turn signal if there isn't one. Last year in Hangzhou, I got a ticket because I mistakenly followed the main road's green light for a U-turn. In practice, pay attention to three things: first, don't let large vehicles on the main road block your view—lean forward slightly to confirm the signal; second, check the ground for any no-U-turn signs; third, watch out for electric bikes suddenly crossing from the opposite direction. Once on a rainy day, I almost hit a delivery guy running a red light, which gave me quite a scare. I recommend developing the habit of scanning the traffic light position when stopping—safety comes first.
