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A diagram showing the path of a driver performing a U-turn on a normal two-way road (left-hand traffic)

A U-turn in driving refers to performing a 180° rotation to reverse the direction of travel. It is called a "U-turn" because the maneuver looks like the letter U. In some areas, the maneuver is illegal, while in others, it is treated as a more ordinary turn, merely extended. In still other areas, lanes are occasionally marked "U-turn permitted" or even "U-turn only."

Occasionally, on a divided highway, special U-turn ramps exist to allow traffic to make a U-turn, though often their use is restricted to emergency and police vehicles only.

In the United States, U-turn regulations vary by state: in Indiana U-turns are allowed as long as the driver follows all of the precautions normally ascribed to making a left turn (yielding right-of-way, etc.). Many places, including Texas and Georgia, have specially designed U-turn lanes (referred to as Texas U-turn lanes). In Michigan, U-turns are required for many left turns to and from divided highways, as part of the Michigan left maneuver.

In some special situations, U-turns can be regulated through the use of a traffic light, where it is the only directional choice and drivers in the specified lane cannot continue forward (“U-turn only” lanes).

Prohibited U-turns

U-turns are often prohibited for various reasons. Sometimes a sign indicates the legality of U-turns. However, traffic regulations in many jurisdictions specifically prohibit certain types of U-turns. Laws vary by jurisdiction as to when a U-turn may or may not be legal. Examples of jurisdictions with codified U-turn prohibitions include the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia and the U.S. states of Colorado^[1] ^[2] and Oregon.^[3] In Alberta, U-turns are prohibited in certain circumstances, for example (ref. Alberta Regulation 304/2002, Division 7):

At the crest of a hill or on a curve unless the driver can see at least 150 m ahead
Anywhere a sign prohibits a U-turn
In urban areas between intersections
At alleys and driveways
At an intersection controlled by a traffic signal (unless signage or signals specifically allow this maneuver)
By a school bus on an undivided highway or on a divided highway where the length of the bus is longer than the width of the median between the two carriageways

Taiwan

In Taiwan, Article 49 of the Act Governing the Punishment of Violation of Road traffic Regulations (zh:道路交通管理處罰條例) administratively fines a motorist 600 to 1800 new Taiwan dollars for any of the following unlawful U-turn:

Making a U-turn on a curve, a slope, a narrow road, a narrow bridge, or a tunnel.
Making a U-turn at a road segment signed No U-turn or painted double solid yellow or white lines or no-overtaking lines.
Making a U-turn at a road segment prohibiting left turn.
Not surrounding a roundabout to make a U-turn in such an intersection.
Before making a U-turn, failing to stop or signal left turn as required, or making a U-turn without paying attention to vehicles or pedestrians passing by.

In addition, a Taiwanese driver license is demerited one point for an unlawful U-turn pursuant to Article 63 of the same Act unless the license has been suspended or revoked. Furthermore, the same Act makes a U-turn on a railway level crossing a violation for drivers of motorized and non-motorized vehicles:

Article 54: A driver of a motor vehicle shall be administratively fined 6000 to 12000 new Taiwan dollars for making a U-turn on a railway level crossing. Should an accident occur, the driver license shall also be revoked, which is for life pursuant to Article 67. This lifetime revocation used to be absolute, but the amendment of the law proclaimed on 28 December 2005 and effective on 1 July 2006 has allowed a possible waiver after serving at least six years of the revocation.
Article 75: A driver of a non-motorized vehicle (e.g. a bicycle) shall be administratively fined 1200 to 2400 New Taiwan dollars for making a U-turn on a railway level crossing.

References

^ "Page 22" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2018-10-13.
^ [Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1010 Sections 42-4-901 and 42-4-902]
^ Section 811.365 of Oregon Driver's Manual

[1] "Page 22" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-25. Retrieved 2018-10-13.

[2] [Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1010 Sections 42-4-901 and 42-4-902]

[3] Section 811.365 of Oregon Driver's Manual

[1]

[2]

[3]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Driving technique used when someone performs a 180° rotation}}
 {{Other uses}}
 {{Redirect|U-ie|Korean entertainer|Uee}}
+{{Redirect|One Eighty|the Ambrosia album|One Eighty (album)|other uses|180 (disambiguation){{!}}One eighty}}
 {{multiple issues|
 {{Refimprove|date=July 2007}}
-{{Globalize/US|date=February 2012}}
+{{Globalize|article|USA|2name=the United States|date=February 2012}}
 }}
-[[File:U-turn.svg|thumb|right|A diagram showing the path of a driver performing a U-turn on a normal two-way road.]]
+[[File:U-turn.svg|thumb|right|A diagram showing the path of a driver performing a U-turn on a normal two-way road (left-hand traffic)]]
+[[File:U turn contrail 1.jpg|thumb|[[Contrail]] of a plane that took a U-turn]]
 A '''U-turn''' in [[driving]] refers to performing a 180° rotation to reverse the direction of travel. It is called a "U-turn" because the maneuver looks like the [[U|letter U]]. In some areas, the maneuver is illegal, while in others, it is treated as a more ordinary turn, merely extended. In still other areas, lanes are occasionally marked "U-turn permitted" or even "U-turn only."
 Occasionally, on a [[divided highway]], special U-turn ramps exist to allow traffic to make a U-turn, though often their use is restricted to emergency and police vehicles only.
-In the United States, U-turn regulations vary by state: in [[Indiana]] U-turns are allowed as long as the driver follows all of the precautions normally ascribed to making a left turn (yielding [[right-of-way (traffic)|right-of-way]], etc.). Many places, including Texas and Georgia, have specially designed U-turn lanes (referred to as [[Texas U-turn]] lanes). In [[Michigan]], U-turns are required for many left turns to and from divided highways, as part of the [[Michigan Left]] maneuver (also referred to as a Michigan Turn).
+In the United States, U-turn regulations vary by state: in [[Indiana]] U-turns are allowed as long as the driver follows all of the precautions normally ascribed to making a left turn (yielding [[right-of-way (traffic)|right-of-way]], etc.). Many places, including Texas and Georgia, have specially designed U-turn lanes (referred to as [[Texas U-turn]] lanes). In [[Michigan]], U-turns are required for many left turns to and from divided highways, as part of the [[Michigan left]] maneuver.
+In some special situations, U-turns can be regulated through the use of a [[traffic light]], where it is the only directional choice and drivers in the specified lane cannot continue forward (“U-turn only” lanes).
+[[File:U-turn traffic light.jpg|thumb|A U-turn traffic light in [[Lake Buena Vista, Florida|Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States.]]]]
 ==Prohibited U-turns==
+U-turns are often prohibited for various reasons. Sometimes a sign indicates the legality of U-turns. However, traffic regulations in many jurisdictions specifically prohibit certain types of U-turns. Laws vary by jurisdiction as to when a U-turn may or may not be legal. Examples of jurisdictions with codified U-turn prohibitions include the Canadian provinces of [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]] and the U.S. states of [[Colorado]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/DriverHandbook.pdf |title=Page 22 |access-date=2018-10-13 |archive-date=2017-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225013052/https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/DriverHandbook.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref>[Colorado Revised Statute 42-4-1010 Sections 42-4-901 and 42-4-902]</ref> and [[Oregon]].<ref>[http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/docs/vcb/VCB811.pdf Section 811.365 of Oregon Driver's Manual]</ref> In Alberta, U-turns are prohibited in certain circumstances, for example (ref. Alberta Regulation 304/2002, Division 7):
-[[File:US 22 U turns.jpg|thumb|left|Signs for U-turn ramps on [[U.S. Route 22]] in [[Union County, New Jersey]]]]
-[[File:U-turn laws in Northern America.svg|thumb|right|US jurisdictions colored in red ([[Missouri]], [[Oregon]], [[Tennessee]], and the [[District of Columbia]]) prohibit U-turns at intersections controlled by a traffic light. All other states (colored in green) allow such a maneuver. Until 2010, [[Wisconsin]] prohibited U-turns at such intersections.
-<br />
-Canadian provinces and territories colored in red prohibit U-turns at intersections controlled by a traffic light. [[Prince Edward Island]], colored in yellow, prohibits this maneuver only in municipalities. The rest of the provinces and territories (colored in green) allow U-turns at such intersections.]]
-U-turns are often prohibited for various reasons. Sometimes a sign indicates the legality of U-turns. However, traffic regulations in many jurisdictions specifically prohibit certain types of U-turns. Laws vary by jurisdiction as to when a U-turn may or may not be legal. Examples of jurisdictions with codified U-turn prohibitions include the Canadian provinces of [[Alberta]] and [[British Columbia]] and the U.S. state of [[Oregon]].<ref>[http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/docs/vcb/VCB811.pdf Section 811.365 of Oregon Driver's Manual]</ref> In Alberta, U-turns are prohibited in certain circumstances, for example (ref. Alberta Regulation 304/2002, Division 7):
 * At the crest of a hill or on a curve unless the driver can see at least 150&nbsp;m ahead
@@ Line 34: / Line 36: @@
 # Not surrounding a [[roundabout]] to make a U-turn in such an intersection.
 # Before making a U-turn, failing to stop or signal left turn as required, or making a U-turn without paying attention to vehicles or pedestrians passing by.
-[[File:TW-Art075.png|thumb|right|100px|Taiwanese No U-turn sign]]
+[[File:Taiwan road sign Art075.png|thumb|right|100px|Taiwanese No U-turn sign]]
 In addition, a Taiwanese driver license is demerited one point for an unlawful U-turn pursuant to Article 63 of the same Act unless the license has been suspended or revoked. Furthermore, the same Act makes a U-turn on a [[Level crossing#Taiwan|railway level crossing]] a violation for drivers of motorized and non-motorized vehicles:
 * Article 54: A driver of a motor vehicle shall be administratively fined 6000 to 12000 [[new Taiwan dollar]]s for making a U-turn on a railway level crossing. Should an accident occur, the [[driver license]] shall also be revoked, which is ''for life'' pursuant to Article 67. This lifetime revocation used to be absolute, but the amendment of the law proclaimed on 28 December 2005 and effective on 1 July 2006 has allowed a possible waiver after serving at least six years of the revocation.
 * Article 75: A driver of a non-motorized vehicle (e.g. a [[bicycle]]) shall be administratively fined 1200 to 2400 New Taiwan dollars for making a U-turn on a railway level crossing.
-===Philippines===
-The Department of Public and Highways (DPWH) has blamed the huge number of U-turn slots as well as the improper position of pedestrian lanes especially along Commonwealth Avenue as among the road hazards. Secretary Rogelio Singson said based on a study conducted by road safety and traffic experts under the international road assessment program, U-turn slots are good “for a certain traffic volume” but not effective in all situations.
-The construction of the U-turn slots started during the term of Bayani Fernando as part of the agency’s measures to improve the flow of traffic.
-Fernando even constructed an elevated U-turn slot, the first in the country, along C-5 Road despite the opposition from several sectors.
 ==See also==
@@ Line 52: / Line 47: @@
 * [[Three-point turn]]
 * [[Turning radius]]
-* [[Wrong way driving]]
+* [[Wrong-way driving]]
+* [[Oakland Park, Florida]]
+* [[Hairpin turn]]
+* [[No U-turn syndrome]]
 ==References==