Will I Get Penalty Points for Making a U-Turn at a Pedestrian Crossing with Traffic Lights?
2 Answers
Making a U-turn at a pedestrian crossing will result in penalty points as it is a traffic violation. According to the "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China," offenders will be penalized with 3 penalty points and a fine of 200 yuan. This is based on Article 49, which states that motor vehicles are not allowed to make U-turns at locations with no U-turn or no left-turn signs or markings, as well as at railway crossings, pedestrian crossings, bridges, sharp curves, steep slopes, tunnels, or other dangerous sections of the road. Definition of yielding to pedestrians at crossings: Pedestrians walking on the right side of the road's pedestrian crossing, not reaching the centerline of the road. Vehicles on the left side of the road should slow down and proceed only when it is safe to do so, allowing pedestrians to cross. Pedestrians waiting outside the boundary line of the motorized and non-motorized lanes. If they have not entered the roadway, vehicles should slow down and proceed only when it is safe to do so. When pedestrians cross the dividing line between motorized and non-motorized lanes, vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. After pedestrians enter the motorized lane along the pedestrian crossing, motor vehicles should slow down and proceed only when it is safe to do so. Vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians waiting at the centerline of the road without entering the motorized lane. Vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. Pedestrians crossing the centerline of the road and entering the lane. Vehicles that do not stop and yield are committing a violation and should be penalized. When the road is divided by a green belt in the middle, and pedestrians are waiting in the central stopping area, vehicles must slow down and proceed only when it is safe to do so. Permissible U-turn situations: Intersections with U-turn signs: If there is a clear U-turn sign at an intersection, U-turns are allowed. If there is a U-turn traffic light, follow the signal. If there is no signal, make the U-turn based on the specific situation without obstructing other vehicles or pedestrians. Intersections without explicit no U-turn or no left-turn signs: If there are no signs explicitly prohibiting U-turns, then U-turns are allowed. "No explicit prohibition" means the absence of "no U-turn" or "no left-turn" signs, and the centerline is not solid. In such cases, U-turns are permitted. Yellow grid lines also allow U-turns: Yellow grid lines are no-stopping zones marked at intersections prone to congestion due to temporary stops, important unit entrances, and other necessary locations. Stopping on these lines (including waiting for traffic lights) is a violation. Although stopping is prohibited in yellow grid zones, U-turns are allowed unless there is a central barrier. Yellow grid lines without barriers are equivalent to "U-turn permitted." Intersections with U-turn traffic lights: This is straightforward—if there is a U-turn signal, follow it. Only proceed on green. When no left-turn and U-turn permitted signs appear together: U-turns are allowed, 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. If they are solid lines, U-turns are prohibited under any circumstances. Continue driving to find a suitable location. If there is a "no left-turn" sign, even without a "no U-turn" sign, U-turns are not allowed at that intersection, as U-turns inherently involve left turns. U-turns must be made from the innermost left-turn lane. If you are in the second left-turn lane, U-turns are not permitted at that intersection. Always yield to through traffic when making a U-turn. Proceed only if it does not interfere with the normal flow of through vehicles; otherwise, you will bear full responsibility for any accidents. Near intersection stop lines, lanes usually have guiding arrows for vehicle direction. The leftmost lane does not always have a left-turn arrow. If it has a straight arrow, even without explicit "no U-turn" signs, U-turns are not allowed.
I remember last year when I was driving, my friend suddenly made a U-turn at the crosswalk of an intersection with traffic lights and got caught by an electronic eye, resulting in 6 penalty points and a fine of 200 RMB. China's traffic rules are very strict. Crosswalks are dedicated areas for pedestrians, specifically designed to ensure the safety of people crossing the road. Making a U-turn here is equivalent to crossing the sidewalk, disrupting traffic order and increasing the risk of accidents. If you're driving and want to make a U-turn at a traffic light, you must wait for the left-turn green light to come on and ensure there's no crosswalk blocking the way. Otherwise, the cameras will catch you every time, not only deducting points but also affecting your safe driving score. So it's best to develop the habit of checking road signs in advance to find a location where U-turns are permitted.
