4.3: UNDERSTANDING THE PURPOSE OF PAVEMENT MARKINGS

Markings give drivers and pedestrians important information, directions, and warnings about roadway travel. You need to understand pavement markings in order to control and reduce risk.

What Do the Yellow or White Lines on the Roadway Mean?
Yellow and white roadway lines provide directions or warnings for drivers. Yellow lines divide traffic traveling in opposite directions. White lines parallel to the roadway separate same-direction traffic into lines. White lines perpendicular to the roadway indicate crosswalks, railroad crossings, and stop signs at intersections.

• Yellow Lines: Traffic that is traveling in opposite directions on a roadway is separated by double solid yellow lines, a broken yellow line, or a combination of broken and solid yellow lines. On divided highways, a single, solid yellow line marks the left edge of the roadway.

If the solid line of the combination solid-broken yellow lines is the first one to your left, you may not cross it to pass another vehicle. If the broken yellow line is the first one to your left you may cross it to pass a vehicle when it is safe to do so. When two solid yellow lines divide a road, you cannot cross them to pass another vehicle. You may turn across them to turn into a driveway.

• White Lines: White lines that are parallel to the roadway mark the lanes for traffic moving in the same directions. If the lines are broken, you can move from land to lane when it is safe to do so.

Single white lines between lanes of traffic moving in the same directions are meant to discourage passing at high-risk locations but do not prohibit passing.

Single white lines are used to indicate the right side of the roadway. These lines are especially helpful at night because they mark the outer edges of the road, which are otherwise hard to see. A solid white line marks a bicycle or breakdown lane beside the roadway.

What Do Other Markings on the Roadway Mean?
Other roadway markings may include lines, arrows, symbols, and lettering designed to guide drivers and pedestrians.

• Arrows: White arrows on the roadway direct you into lanes from which you can drive straight ahead or turn right or left. On some three-lane roadways, the center lane is marked by parallel solid and broken yellow lines with white arrows that point alternately left and right. These lanes are shared left-turn lanes. Vehicles moving in either direction can use these lanes to make left turns into another road or entrance. Drivers who want to make left turns onto the roadway can also move into the shared left turn lane and wait for a gap in traffic.