DRIVING LANES

Bicycle Lanes

Indicated by a solid or dashed white line or green pavement markings, and a bicyclist symbol. For preferential use of bicyclists. Drivers should not drive in the bicycle lane except when turning left or right. Before turning, check your mirrors for bicyclists that may be behind you and yield to bicycles in the lane.

On Three-Lane Roads

With traffic moving in both directions, road markings show when drives may use drivers may use the center lane for making left turns or for passing.

Toll Plazas/Lanes

Accept payment using E-ZPass, allowed to pay electronic or in person. Slow down when coming up to the toll, Be cautious, some cars may be changing lanes, BE CAREFUL!, Cameras will photograph EVERYTHING! (Car Plates w/ numbers/letters. You will be billed for the toll.

Dotted White Lines

Actually small rectangles in a series where each is closely spaced to the next. They are used to show lane assignment in intersections/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. Also used to denote the opening of a turn lane at an intersection and entrance/exit lanes at interchanges.

Do NOT Have Lane Markings

Many two-lane road in VA, to separate the lanes. On an unmarked two-lane road, you may pass a slow moving car on the left side if there are no signs prohibiting passing. MAKE SURE THAT THE WAY IS CLEAR

Double Soild 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, riders of skateboards/scooters, when the opposite lane is clear and you can pass safely.

High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV)

Marked on highways with a diamond, lane used for buses, vanpools, carpools, motorcycles, other high maintenance vehicles. Sometimes reserve for bus lanes.

Broken Yellow Line Alongside Solid Yellow Line

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

Broken Yellow Lines

Passing on the left is allowed in either direction when the way ahead is clear

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 (HOV) 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 marking allow.

Broken White Lines

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

A Shared Lane Marking

Sharrow, consists of 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.

Solid White Lines

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

Yield Line

Triangular 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. Often seen at the entrance of a roundabout.

If The Center Lane Is Marked By A Single Broken Yellow Line

Drivers traveling in either direction may use the center lane for passing.

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.