Virginia Pavement Markings

Painted curb

You must follow special rules to park there. Check with the locality for specific meanings.

Yield line

A line of triangles extending across the roadway that may be used with a yield sign to show the point at which you must yield or stop, if necessary. A yield line is often seen at the entrance of a roundabout.

Yield ahead symbol

An outline of a triangle painted in the lane before the place where you must yield.

Dotted white lines

Are actually small rectangles in a series where each is closely spaced to the next. They are used to show lane assignment in intersections and interchanges where there might otherwise be a tendency to drift out of a lane or an area of intended use. Often they are used to guide two turning lanes through the intersection. Dotted white lines are also used to denote the opening of a turn lane at an intersection and entrance/exit lanes at interchanges.

Shared lane marking (sharrow)

Consists of a bicycle symbol with a double chevron arrow above it and is used on travel lanes too narrow for motor vehicles and bicycles to share side-by-side. Sharrows clarify where bicyclists are encouraged to ride in the lane and remind drivers to expect bicyclists on the road.

Red Painted Curb

Do not stop, stand or park.

Red markings

Generally not used; but, some communities do use red curbs to indicate no parking zones.

Center Turn Lane

If both sides of the center lane are marked by a solid yellow line and a broken yellow line, drivers traveling in either direction may use the lane for making left turns. However, they may not travel further than 150 feet in this lane.

White lane arrows are curved or straight

If you are in a lane marked with a curved arrow or a curved arrow and the word ONLY, you must turn in the direction of the arrow. If your lane is marked with both a curved and straight arrow, you may turn or go straight.

No Lane Markings

Many two-lane roads in Virginia do not have lane markings to separate the lanes. On an unmarked two-lane road, you may pass a slow moving vehicle on the left side if there are no signs prohibiting passing. Make sure that the way is clear.

Double solid yellow lines

Mark the center of the road and separate traffic traveling in two different directions. Passing is not allowed in either direction. You may not cross the lines unless you are making a left turn or passing pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of scooters or skateboards, when the opposite lane is clear and you can pass safely.

High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV) lanes

Marked on highways by a diamond shape in the center of the lane. HOV lanes may also be special lanes separated by a barrier or solid double white lines. During heavy traffic periods, HOV lanes are reserved for buses, vanpools, carpools, other high occupancy vehicles, motorcycles, and certain clean special fuel vehicles. Road signs show the minimum number of passengers a vehicle must carry (excluding motorcycles and clean fuel vehicles) to use the HOV lanes and the times that HOV restrictions are in effect. If the lanes are separated by a barrier, they are reversible. This means that during certain times of the day, traffic flows one way. During other times of the day, traffic flows in the opposite direction. A diamond-shaped marking may also indicate that the lane is reserved for use as a bike lane or bus lane.

Broken yellow center lines

Mean that passing on the left is allowed in either direction when the way ahead is clear.

Yellow center lines

Mean two-way traffic, flowing in opposite directions.

Broken yellow line alongside a solid yellow line

Means that passing is allowed from the side of the broken line, but not from the side of the solid line. Vehicles on the solid yellow line side may only cross the line to pass pedestrians, bicyclists, and riders of scooters or skateboards, when the opposite lane is clear and you can pass safely.

Red reflectors

On the pavement show areas not to be entered or used. They are positioned on the road surface so that only traffic flowing in the wrong direction would observe them.

Center Passing Lane

On three-lane roads with traffic moving in both directions, road markings show when drivers may use the center lane for making left turns or for passing. If the center lane is marked by a single broken yellow line on both sides, drivers traveling in either direction may use the center lane for passing.

Blue Painted Curb

Parking is reserved for persons with disabilities.

Double solid white lines

Separate lanes of traffic going in the same direction. Most often they are used to designate special use lane from conventional lanes, as when used to separate a High Occupancy Vehicle lanes from the other lanes of an expressway. You may not cross these lines. You may enter the designated special use lane only where signs and markings allow.

Broken white lines

Separate lanes of traffic going in the same direction. You may change lanes with caution.

Blue markings

Show parking spaces for persons with disabilities.

Solid white lines

Show turn lanes and discourage lane changes near intersections, and at other locations where lane changes might be dangerous. Solid white lines also mark the right edge of pavement. Arrows used with white lines indicate which turn may be made from the lane. Stop lines, crosswalks and parking spaces also are marked by white lines.

Yellow Painted Curb

Stop only long enough to load or unload. Stay with your car.

White Painted Curb

Stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers.