Road Markings and Traffic Control
Reading the road surface
Painted markings tell you what the signs cannot: exactly where to be and when you may cross. Learn the line types cold.
- Solid white centre line: do not cross or straddle it.
- Broken white centre line: you may cross to overtake when safe.
- Double lines (one solid, one broken): obey the line nearest you. If the solid is on your side, no crossing.
- Solid white edge line: marks the road edge; cross only to stop or in an emergency.
- Zebra crossing: broad white stripes with no stop line - pedestrians have priority.
- Stop line: a solid transverse line at a stop sign or signal; stop behind it.
- Yellow lines at the kerb: parking restrictions (often no parking or no stopping).
- Arrows and lane markings: choose your lane early; do not change lanes across a solid line.
Traffic control devices
Traffic lights, pedestrian signals, boom barriers, flashing beacons and police hand signals all control traffic. A police officer's signals override everything. A flashing red beacon at a railway crossing means stop; flashing amber means caution.
Traps
- A question shows a broken line on your side and a solid on the other - you may cross.
- Candidates confuse a zebra crossing's wide stripes with a stop line.
- Yellow kerb lines are often mistaken for lane markings.
Rule of thumb
"Obey the line nearest your lane; never cross a solid line on your own side."
Worked example: A double line has a solid line on your side and broken on the other. You are stuck behind a slow truck. You may not cross, because the solid line governs you.