Will U-turns on Ramps Definitely Be Captured by Cameras?
3 Answers
Whether a U-turn on a ramp is captured depends on two scenarios: if there are cameras on the ramp, the action will be recorded and classified as a traffic violation. If there are no cameras on the ramp, it will not be captured. Prohibited U-turn situations are as follows: U-turns are prohibited where there is a 'No U-turn' or 'No Left Turn' sign: If there is a sign prohibiting U-turns, then U-turns are not allowed at that intersection. A U-turn is an extension of a left turn, so if there is a 'No Left Turn' sign at an intersection, U-turns are also prohibited there. U-turns are prohibited at crosswalks: U-turns are not allowed at crosswalks. If U-turns are permitted at an intersection, you must cross the crosswalk before making the U-turn and not perform the U-turn on the crosswalk. U-turns are prohibited when there is no left-turn lane: Even in the leftmost lane, if there is no sign permitting left turns, U-turns are not allowed. U-turns are prohibited within the second left-turn lane: When a vehicle is in the second left-turn lane, it cannot make a U-turn. In the absence of any signs, U-turns are only allowed in the innermost left-turn lane. U-turns are prohibited at solid yellow lines: U-turns are not allowed at solid yellow lines. Even if there is a sign permitting U-turns, you must wait for the green light and cross the stop line to make the U-turn. U-turns are prohibited on highways: Crossing the central divider to make a U-turn on a highway is illegal and will result in a fine and 12 penalty points. If you miss an exit on the highway, continue to the next exit and leave the highway; do not attempt an illegal U-turn. U-turn precautions: When making a U-turn, you should activate the left turn signal in advance, the maximum speed should not exceed 30 km/h, and you must not obstruct other vehicles or pedestrians traveling normally.
After driving on the highway for so many years, I don't think U-turns on ramps are always caught on camera, but the risk is quite high. I once saw someone make a U-turn at an exit ramp because they were in a hurry, and they were caught by the camera, fined, and had points deducted. It mainly depends on the location—highway entrances in cities or around toll booths are densely covered with cameras, making it easy to get caught; in more remote sections with fewer devices, you might get lucky. But you absolutely shouldn't take chances—not only is there a fine of around 200 yuan and 3 points deducted, but it can also disrupt traffic and cause accidents. I recommend just driving straight ahead and finding a service area or the next exit to adjust your route—safety first and avoiding unnecessary trouble. If you're really pressed for time, pull over safely, check your navigation, and then move—don't go for temporary convenience.
Technically speaking, cameras are usually installed at both ends of ramps or on curves, designed to monitor speeding and illegal lane changes. When making a U-turn, if your vehicle enters the field of view, high-magnification lenses or intelligent recognition systems can automatically capture image data. However, coverage is not comprehensive—some rural highway exits lack equipment, or poor weather conditions may reduce clarity enough to miss violations. I've studied these systems; urban hubs are basically fully covered, so don't take risks assuming there are many blind spots. Once caught, fines and penalty points are unavoidable, and it may even be recorded in the network, affecting your next annual inspection. Stay calm while driving, and planning your route in advance makes things easier.
