Pavement Markings

Lanes are 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.

High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV)

Means that you must follow special rules to park there

Painted curb

Means that passing is allowed from the side of the broken line, but not from the side of the solid line.

A broken yellow line alongside a solid yellow line

Show parking spaces for persons with disabilities.

Blue Markings

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

Broken Yellow Center Lines

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

Broken white lines

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.

Broken yellow arrow center lane

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 turning lane at an intersection and entrance/exit lanes at interchanges.

Dotted 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.

Double solid white 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.

Double solid yellow lines

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.

No lane markings

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

Red Markings

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.

Red Reflectors

Do not stop, stand or park.

Red curb

A 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.

Shared lane marking

Show turning 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.

Solid white lines

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.

Three-land roads

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

Yield ahead symbol

Parking is reserved for persons with disabilities.

Blue curb

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 line

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

White curb

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.

White lane arrows are curved or straight.

Mean two-way traffic, flowing in opposite directions

Yellow Center Lines

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

Yellow curb