Regulatory road markings: lines you must obey

What are regulatory road markings?

Regulatory road markings are markings on the road that you must obey. Some tell you what you must do. Others tell you what you may not do.

They fall into five groups:

• lines across your lane, where you stop or give way
• lines along the road, which you may not cross
• lines that control stopping and parking
• markings that reserve a lane or a parking bay for one group
• arrows that tell you which way to go

Each marking has its own entry below. This page shows how the groups work and where learners mix them up.

What must you do at a stop line and a yield line?

At a stop line you bring your vehicle to a standstill (a complete stop). At a yield line you yield (give way).

A stop line shows where your vehicle must come to a standstill. It can be on any road, especially at intersections and pedestrian crossings. If there is no stop sign, the stop line has the same meaning as a stop sign.

A yield line can also be on any road, especially at intersections. It means you must give priority to all who cross in front of you at that point. Give way to anyone who crosses your path of travel, or who wants to cross it. Even if there is no yield sign, you still have to give way.

So the line alone is enough. Do not wait to see a sign before you obey it.

Which lines may you not cross?

Five markings show a place where you may not drive. Learn how strict each one is, because the exceptions are different.

• No overtaking line: no part of your vehicle may be on the right-hand side of the line. There are three exceptions.
• No crossing lines: under no circumstances may you cross them or drive on their right-hand side. There is one exception.
• Channelizing line: no part of your vehicle may cross it.
• Right-edge line: it may not be crossed.
• Painted island: you may not stop on it, park on it or drive over it. There are three exceptions.

You may cross a no overtaking line only:

• to gain direct access to (drive straight into) an entrance on the other side of the line
• to drive from such an entrance onto the road
• to pass a stationary (standing still) obstruction

In all three cases you must first make sure it is safe.

No crossing lines are stricter. You may cross them only to drive around a stationary vehicle or stationary obstruction in the road.

A painted island prohibits (does not allow) driving in that area. You may stop on it, park on it or drive over it only:

• on the orders of a traffic officer or police officer
• to avoid a collision
• in an emergency

When may you drive to the left of the left-edge line?

Only while another vehicle is overtaking you, and only if the other conditions below are met. At all other times, avoid driving to the left of the left-edge line.

The left-edge line shows where the left edge of the road is. You may drive to the left of it only if all of these are true:

• another vehicle is overtaking you
• you can do so without endangering yourself, other traffic, pedestrians or property
• it is daytime
• persons and vehicles on the road are clearly discernible (can be clearly seen) at a distance of at least 150 metres

The rules of the road add one more condition for driving on the shoulder. The road must be designated for one lane of traffic in each direction.

Moving over is not compulsory. You do not have to do it when someone overtakes you. If you do move over, keep in mind that you have very little space there.

A breakdown is a separate case. If your vehicle breaks down, stop as far left of the line as possible. Then switch on your emergency lights.

What is the difference between a no stopping line and a no parking line?

At no stopping lines you may not stop. At a no parking line you may stop for short periods, but you may not park.

Parking means that your vehicle is stationary for longer than is needed to load or off-load goods or passengers. It is still parking whether the engine is running or not.

At no stopping lines you may not stop for passengers, for goods or for a short while. Where the no stopping line is a broken line, you may not stop during the times indicated by a road traffic sign.

No stopping lines are used where stationary vehicles may disrupt the traffic. They are also used where the view is already obstructed (blocked) and stationary vehicles would block it more.

Two more markings show an area where you may not stop:

• Box junction: do not stop in the marked box at an intersection. Stopping there could prevent other traffic from turning or driving further forward. Before you enter the intersection, make sure you will be able to drive through it.
• Pedestrian crossing ahead lines: do not stop in this area before a pedestrian crossing. You may stop there only for pedestrians, or for a vehicle that has already stopped.

What must you do at a pedestrian crossing marking?

Give priority to pedestrians crossing the road there. You do this by slowing down or stopping.

Look out for pedestrians who are crossing and for pedestrians who want to cross. These crossings can be on any road. You find them especially in urban areas (towns and cities), at intersections and close to schools.

Pedestrian crossing ahead lines are marked on the road before a crossing. When you reach them, look out for pedestrians who may cross, and slow down.

Two overtaking rules apply at crossings:

• Do not overtake inside the area of the pedestrian crossing ahead lines.
• Do not overtake a vehicle that has stopped at any pedestrian crossing.

A stopped vehicle can hide a pedestrian from you.

Which lanes and parking bays are reserved?

Some markings keep part of the road for one group of road users. If you are not in that group, stay out.

• Bus lane marking: this part of the carriageway (roadway) is reserved for buses only, during the periods shown on the sign. If you are not driving a bus, do not drive there during those times.
• Bicycle lane lines: only cyclists may travel inside these lines. Do not drive in the marked area.
• Exclusive parking bay: a symbol in the bay shows who may park there. If you are not part of that group, you may not park there.

An ordinary parking bay marking shows where you may park. Your vehicle must be completely inside the lines that mark the bay.

Angle parking has its own rule. Park as far as possible from the road, with the front of your vehicle not further than 150mm from the kerb. No part of the vehicle may be on or over the sidewalk (pavement).

What do mandatory arrows on the road tell you?

A mandatory (compulsory) direction arrow shows the only direction you may go from the lane you are in.

These arrows are marked before an intersection. Choose the correct lane in time for the direction you want to go. At the intersection, the arrow in your lane decides where you may go.

A traffic circle or mini-circle can have arrows too. They show the direction you must follow around the circle. Drive around the circle only in that direction. Yield to traffic coming from your right-hand side. At a mini-circle, yield to traffic that reaches its yield line before you reach yours. Drive slowly, so that you can stop if someone does not yield.

The fine print

The left-edge and right-edge lines are marked on the left-hand and right-hand edges of the road. A painted island, no stopping lines and a no parking line can be on any road. Exclusive parking bay markings are found at parking bays.

Numbers to remember

• 150 metres: how far you must clearly see persons and vehicles before you may drive to the left of the left-edge line
• 150mm: the furthest the front of your vehicle may be from the kerb in angle parking

Mistakes learners make

• Thinking a stop line only counts when there is a stop sign. With no stop sign, the stop line has the same meaning as a stop sign.
• Mixing up the no overtaking line and no crossing lines. The no overtaking line has three exceptions, and two are about entrances. No crossing lines have one: a stationary vehicle or obstruction.
• Thinking you must move left of the left-edge line when someone overtakes you. It is not compulsory. It is allowed only in daytime, with at least 150 metres of clear view, and only if you endanger nobody.
• Mixing up no stopping and no parking. At a no parking line you may stop for short periods. At no stopping lines you may not.
• Thinking you are not parked because the engine is running. Parking is about how long you stand still, whether the engine is running or not.

Signs in this chapter

Stop lineA stop line shows where you must bring your vehicle to a standstill (a complete stop).

Yield lineA yield line shows that you must yield (give way). You must give priority to all who cross in front of you at that point.

Pedestrian crossing linesThese lines mark a pedestrian crossing. Pedestrians crossing the road there must be given priority.

No overtaking linesIt is prohibited (not allowed) to drive with any part of your vehicle on the right-hand side of this line.

No crossing linesThese lines tell you that you may not cross them.

Channelizing lineA channelizing line prohibits you from crossing the line.

Left-edge lineThe left-edge line shows where the left edge of the road is.

Right-edge lineThe right-edge line shows where the right edge of the road is.

Painted islandA painted island prohibits (does not allow) driving in the area it marks.

Parking bayA parking bay marking shows where you may park.

Exclusive parking bayThis bay is parking only for the road users identified by the symbol in the bay.

Mandatory direction arrowsThese arrows show that you may only proceed (go) in the direction indicated by the arrow in your lane.

Bus lane markingThis marking identifies the part of the carriageway (roadway) that is reserved for buses only, during the periods indicated on the sign.

Box junctionA box junction prohibits you from stopping in the marked area.

Pedestrian crossing ahead linesThese lines show an area before a pedestrian crossing where you may not stop.

No stopping linesThese lines prohibit stopping. They are used where stationary (standing still) vehicles may disrupt the traffic. They are also used where…

No parking lineA no parking line shows a place where you may not park.

Bicycle lane linesThese lines show the limits within which only cyclists may travel.

Traffic circle mandatory directional arrowsThese arrows show the direction you must follow around a traffic circle or mini-circle.

Test yourself

1. Question 1

   Which road marking indicates where a driver must bring the vehicle to a standstill?

   

   

   

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   Answer: Picture B

   The stop line, a solid white line across your lane, shows where you must stop.

2. Question 2

   You approach a yield line. A vehicle on the cross road has not yet entered your path, but is about to cross it. What must you do?

   • A Proceed first, as the vehicle has not yet crossed
   • B Give way to the vehicle
   • C Sound the hooter and proceed
   Show answer

   Answer: B: Give way to the vehicle

   At a yield line you must give way to anyone who crosses your path or wants to cross it.

3. Question 3

   Which road marking informs a driver that priority must be given to pedestrians crossing or wanting to cross the road?

   

   

   

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   Answer: Picture C

   The block pedestrian crossing tells you to give priority to pedestrians crossing or wanting to cross.

4. Question 4

   Which road marking informs a driver that it is prohibited to drive with any part of the vehicle on the right-hand side of the line?

   

   

   

   Show answer

   Answer: Picture B

   The no overtaking line means no part of your vehicle may be on the right-hand side of the line.

5. Question 5

   Which road marking informs a driver that the line may not be crossed?

   

   

   

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   Answer: Picture C

   The no crossing lines, two solid white lines side by side, tell you that you may not cross.

6. Question 6

   Which ONE of the following is NOT a condition for driving to the left of the left-edge line?

   • A You are being overtaken by another vehicle
   • B You are driving a heavy vehicle
   • C It is daytime
   Show answer

   Answer: B: You are driving a heavy vehicle

   Driving a heavy vehicle is not a reason; you may drive there only whilst being overtaken.