Will I Get Points Deducted for Making a Direct Left Turn from the Auxiliary Road?
2 Answers
Making a direct left turn from the auxiliary road will not result in points deduction, but it may incur a fine. After making a left turn, the vehicle should enter the leftmost lane if there are three lanes. The "Implementation Regulations of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China" stipulate: Article 51: When motor vehicles pass through intersections controlled by traffic signals, they shall proceed as follows: at intersections with designated lanes, enter the appropriate lane based on the intended direction of travel; vehicles already inside the intersection preparing to enter a roundabout shall have the right of way; when making a left turn, turn near the left side of the center point of the intersection. Turn signals must be activated during turns, and low beams must be used at night. Article 52: When motor vehicles pass through intersections without traffic signal control or traffic police direction, in addition to complying with the provisions of Article 51, paragraphs (2) and (3), they shall also observe the following: yield to vehicles with the right of way as indicated by traffic signs or markings; in the absence of traffic signs or markings, stop before entering the intersection to observe and yield to vehicles coming from the right.
After driving for so many years, I've encountered the situation of making a left turn from a side road quite a few times. Turning left directly from a side road can indeed result in penalty points, but it's not absolute—it mainly depends on traffic signs and signals. If it's an intersection with a clear left-turn arrow signal, proceeding on green is fine. However, many side road intersections have 'No Left Turn' signs or solid line zones. If you force a turn there and get caught by traffic cameras or police, it's an immediate 3-point deduction plus a 200-yuan fine. I remember one time in the city, I was in a hurry to get home and didn't notice the signs, ended up making the turn and got fined—totally regrettable. It's also quite risky safety-wise; when turning left, it's easy to collide with vehicles in the traffic lane or pedestrians. So now I've developed a habit: slow down in advance, carefully check the signs and signals, and only proceed when it's confirmed safe. If it's really not possible, I'd rather take a slightly longer route than get a ticket.
