Pavement Markings and Object Markers
Pavement markings and object markers guide lane position, passing, stopping, and obstacle avoidance when signs are absent or hard to see. Kansas practice questions test yellow versus white lines, broken versus solid lines, stop bars, crosswalks, railroad markings, and the purpose of object markers.
Core rules
- Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions. White lines separate traffic moving the same direction or mark the right edge.
- A broken line allows crossing when safe; a solid line discourages or prohibits crossing. A solid yellow line on your side means do not pass.
- Double yellow lines mean no passing across them; if one side has a broken line, only that side may pass when safe.
- Stop bars are thick white lines at intersections; stop before them. Crosswalk markings guide pedestrians and alert drivers.
- Railroad pavement markings include an X, RR, and stop line before tracks.
- Object markers use striped panels or reflectors to mark obstructions near the roadway, such as bridge ends or channelizing islands.
Worked example
On a two-lane road, you see a solid yellow line on your side and a broken yellow line on the opposite side. The broken line belongs to oncoming traffic, not you. You must not cross the yellow line to pass, even if the road ahead looks clear. Wait until your side has a broken line and passing is otherwise legal and safe.
Traps
Do not use yellow lines to separate lanes going the same way; that is the job of white lines. A broken line does not guarantee it is safe to pass. Do not stop on a crosswalk or railroad marking. An object marker warns of a fixed obstacle; it is not a lane line or a turn arrow.