Pavement AND CURB markings-PURPOSE AND MEANING

Lines and other markings painted on the pavement are also used to control and direct traffic. Sometimes these lines will include reflective raised pavement markers which make the lines more visible, or the markers may be used to simulate the lines. Yellow and white are the two most common colors of pavement markings. Lines in these two colors have different meanings. You should be able to determine where you are on a roadway by the color and type of the lines.

Yellow lines parallel to the roadway mark the center of a roadway on which there is two way traffic. Yellow lines are used in different configurations that have different meanings.

If there is a single yellow line dividing lanes of traffic, and the line is broken (not continuous), you may pass over this to pass other vehicles, and to make left turns into other streets, driveways, and alleys if it can be done safely.

If there is a single solid yellow line dividing lanes of traffic, you may not drive over this line to pass other vehicles. You may cross over a solid yellow line to make a left turn at an intersection, to enter or exit a road or a driveway, or to make a U-turn, if it can be made safely and is not otherwise prohibited.

On divided highways and some other roadways, a single solid yellow line will usually be used to indicate the leftmost boundary of the drivable roadway. You should not drive to the left of this line. Sets of solid yellow lines are frequently used to divide oncoming lanes of traffic before an upcoming hazard such as a road obstruction caused by the pillar of an over-crossing.

Yellow line markings, solid line next to a broken line

Double solid yellow lines on two lane roadways

You may cross over a double solid yellow line to make a left turn at an intersection, to enter or exit a road or a driveway, or to make a U-turn, if it can be made safely and is not otherwise prohibited.

If the road has only two lanes, one lane in each direction, a slow-moving vehicle must pull into a turnout lane  if five or more vehicles are trailing.

Double solid yellow lines on four lane roadways

If there are four lanes, two lanes in each direction, driver on the first lane (the most right lane). Use the left lane for passing only.  Do not cross over solid yellow lines to pass another vehicle.

Two sets of solid double yellow lines that are two or more feet apart represent a wall or center divider. You may not drive on or over these lines for any reason. You may only make a U turn or left turn on a street divided with these lines at an opening provided for turns.

In some cases, one or more sets of parallel solid yellow lines are also used to separate carpool lanes from normal traffic lanes. Do not cross over these lines to enter or exit the carpool lane. Wait until the lines are broken or for some other designated place to enter or exit the lane.

A center traffic lane enclosed by double yellow lines on each side with the inner lines broken may be used to start and complete left hand turns and start U-turns from either direction of traffic, but cannot be used for passing. The rules for proper use of center left turn lanes is frequently misunderstood by drivers.

You must use the center left turn lane to make a left turn or U turn if one exists on the street you are driving. You must signal and completely enter the lane before making your left-hand turn. Don't stop part way into the lane, with your vehicle blocking traffic.

You may only drive in this lane for a distance up to 200 feet, which is about the length of five or six vehicles. The limit on driving in a center left turn lane is to help prevent drivers from using this lane as a regular traffic lane or as a passing lane. You may not use a center left-turn lane for either of these purposes.

Be careful to look for vehicles coming from the opposite direction that are pulling into a center left turn lane. Because of the potential for meeting other vehicles coming from opposite direction head-on, center left turn lanes are often referred to as "suicide lanes."

When turning left from a side street or driveway, you have the option to use this lane before completing your turn. If you want to first turn into the center left-turn lane, you should signal, wait until it is safe, and then drive completely into the center left turn lane. Wait in the lane with your right-turn signal on for traffic to clear before pulling into traffic. Alternatively, if traffic is clear in both directions, you can just make your left turn directly from the side street or driveway, without first stopping in the center left turn lane.

You may drive across a center left turn lane to enter a driveway or street that is directly on the other side. However, you should not use a center left-turn lane to make a right turn.

White line markings

A single or double solid white line dividing traffic lanes going in the same direction cannot be crossed for any reason.

On divided highways, a single solid white line will usually be used to indicate the rightmost boundary of the drivable roadway. You should not drive to the right of this line.

Sets of solid white lines are frequently used to divide the lanes before an upcoming hazard such as a road obstruction caused by the pillar of an over-crossing, or the median between a freeway off-ramp and normal traffic lanes. Again, these lines should not be crossed.

Thicker solid white lines are used to separate parts of left and right turn lanes close to the intersection. If you pass the part of the turn lane that has a broken white line or no line, you may not turn over the solid line to enter the turn lane.

Lines with arrows

White arrows are sometimes painted on the roadway which indicate whether the lane proceeds ahead, merges, turns, or exits, and are intended to guide your choice of lane.

A painted curb means that you must follow special rules to park there. The curb are color painted in the areas where parking must be limited or even prohibited. For example, city commercial areas may reserve some parking spaces for loading and unloading or for commercial vehicles only.  The colors on curbs mean:

• White: You may stop only long enough to pick up or drop off passengers or mail.

• Green: You may park for a limited time. The time is usually shown on a sign next to the green zone, or painted on the curb.

• Yellow: You may stop here only long enough to load or unload things or people—no longer than the local law allows. Drivers of noncommercial vehicles are usually required to stay with their vehicle.

• Red: No stopping, standing, or parking. (A bus may stop at a red zone marked for buses.)

• Blue: This indicates parking for the disabled only. You must have a placard (window sign) or your license plates must be specially marked.

ADDITIONAL PAVEMENT MARKINGS-COLOR AND PURPOSE

A single solid yellow lines are used on the left edge of divided streets or roadways.

Upcoming road obstructions may be marked by crosshatch white or yellow lines painted on the pavements. Crosshatch lines define an area, within defined boundaries, over which vehicular traffic should not travel. Crosshatch lines are sloped in the direction of major flow of traffic.

Crosswalks

Railroad crossings are often marked with solid white lines across the roadway. They mark where to stop at  railroad crossing.   You must stop behind these lines when you stop at  a railroad crossing. These stop lines at railroad crossings are often preceded by white painted letters on the pavement such as "RXR."

You must never stop in the vehicle clearance area marked  by white solid lines and white "X" symbol .

School warnings

Broad yellow lines crossing the road are sometimes used to indicate a school crossing. Yellow markings on the pavement which say "SCHOOL XING" will usually also be painted near school crossings. You should carefully scan for children about to cross or crossing the road when you see these markings.

When automobiles and trains meet unexpectedly, the result can be catastrophic. Automobile drivers must understand how to identify railroad crossings and react to approaching trains. They should understand the tremendous risk they put themselves in when they try to beat a train to a crossing or drive around protective crossing gates. Drivers who fail to understand this risk contribute to the following statistics.

In any given year, about 500 people die and  1,500  are seriously injured in car vs. train collisions.

Over 500 people are killed while trespassing on railroad tracks and property each year.

A motorist is 30 times more likely to be killed in a crash involving a train than in a collision involving another motor vehicle.

More people die in highway-rail collisions each year than in commercial airline crashes in an average year.

It takes the average train over a mile to stop.

The majority of vehicle-train crashes occur when the train is traveling less than 30 miles per hour.

If your vehicle stalls on a railroad crossing, get everyone out and off the tracks immediately.  If no train is in sight, post lookouts and try to start the vehicle from outside or push it off the tracks.

Don't misjudge a train's speed and distance. Because of the large size of trains and the viewing angle at which you see them, they appear to move much slower than you think. If you have any doubts, stop and wait for the train to pass.