2.2 Road Markings, Yellow Box Junctions, Bus Lanes & Parking

Road Markings, Yellow Box Junctions & Tram Tracks

Longitudinal Road Markings

Longitudinal road markings run parallel to the direction of travel. They establish traffic lanes, separate opposing streams of traffic, and mark the outer boundaries of the carriageway. For motorcyclists, painted lines also represent surface friction anomalies: thermoplastic road paint provides significantly less grip than asphalt, especially in wet weather.

Centre Lines and Overtaking Regulations

1. Broken White Line:

   • Consists of short white dashes separated by longer gaps.
   • Divides traffic lanes moving in opposite directions or in the same direction.
   • You may cross a broken white line to overtake or turn, provided the road ahead is clear, visibility is unobstructed, and the manoeuvre can be executed without endangering or impeding other road users.

2. Single Continuous White Line:

   • The Rules of the Road says that where there is a single or double continuous white line along the centre of the road, all traffic must keep to the left of the line, except in an emergency or for access (for example, to turn into a premises or side road).
   • These lines are used on the approach to blind summits, bends, narrow bridges and junctions where overtaking would be dangerous.
   • Important Exam Distinction: A slow tractor, horse or cyclist ahead is not an emergency. Crossing a continuous white line is a penalty-point offence (3 points on payment of the fixed charge, 5 on conviction).
   • You must not park where there is a single or double continuous white line along the centre of the road.

3. Combination of Continuous and Broken White Lines:

   • When a broken line and a continuous line run parallel down the centre of the road, you must obey the line closest to your side of the road.
   • If the line on your side is continuous, you are prohibited from crossing or straddling it to overtake.
   • If the line on your side is broken, you may cross both lines to overtake if safe to do so, provided you return to your own side before the line on your side becomes continuous.

4. Double Continuous White Lines:

   • Consists of two solid white lines running side by side down the centre of the road.
   • Traffic in both directions must keep to the left of the lines, except in an emergency or for access. Neither direction may cross them to overtake.

5. Warning Lines and Double Broken Lines:

   • Longer white lines with shorter gaps warn of a hazard ahead, such as restricted vision, a junction, a roundabout, a hill, a bend, or a continuous white line.
   • Double broken white lines warn that continuous white lines are a short distance ahead; do not cross them unless it is safe.

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Edge Lines, Hard Shoulders and Yellow Lines

• Single Broken Yellow Line Along the Side of the Road:
  • This marks a hard shoulder, which on ordinary roads is normally only for pedestrians and cyclists.
  • The Rules of the Road allows a driver to pull in to the hard shoulder briefly to let a vehicle behind overtake, but only if no pedestrians or cyclists are using it and there are no junctions or entrances nearby. It is not an extra running lane or a route past queues.
  • Motorway hard shoulders have stricter rules: use them only in an emergency (see section 3.4).
• Single Yellow Line Along the Kerb:
  • Usually has an upright information plate nearby. Together, the line and plate mean you must not park during the times shown.
• Double Yellow Lines Along the Kerb:
  • No parking at any time.

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Transverse Road Markings

Transverse markings run across the carriageway at junctions, crossings, and controlled stops:

• Solid White Stop Line: Used with a Stop sign or at traffic lights. Stop behind the line; at a red light you must not go beyond the stop line.
• Broken White Yield Line: Accompanies the inverted triangle YIELD sign or mini-roundabouts. Riders must yield right of way to traffic on the intersecting carriageway, stopping at the broken line if necessary.
• Pedestrian Crossing Stop Lines: Positioned before zebra crossings, pelican crossings and pedestrian lights to show where vehicles must stop.

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Yellow Box Junctions

Yellow box junctions consist of criss-cross yellow lines painted across intersections, designed to prevent traffic congestion and intersection gridlock.

The General Rule

The Rules of the Road says you must not enter a yellow box junction unless you can clear it without stopping. Entering the box when your exit is blocked by queuing traffic causes gridlock for cross traffic.

The Right-Turn Exception

There is one exception:

• You may enter a yellow box junction when you want to turn right and are waiting for a gap in traffic coming from the opposite direction.
• Even then, do not enter the box if doing so would block other traffic that has the right of way.

                    [ Your exit must not be blocked ]
                                ^
                                |
Oncoming Traffic --------> [ YELLOW BOX ] <-------- Intending Right Turn
                                |              (May wait here ONLY for a
                                |               gap in oncoming traffic)
                                V

Yellow Boxes at Railway and Tram Crossings

Yellow box markings are also used at railway level crossings and tramway crossings. Never enter these yellow boxes unless you can leave them without stopping, and never stop on the railway tracks.

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Hatched Markings

Hatched markings are areas of diagonal white stripes. The Rules of the Road shows them being used for:

• Merging traffic, for example where two lanes of traffic become one
• Diverging traffic, for example channelling traffic taking a left turn away from traffic going straight ahead
• Separating traffic travelling in opposite directions, in central median islands

If you see these markings on a road, you must not enter the area they cover. Entry by a driver into a hatched marked area is a penalty-point offence. Never use a hatched area as an overtaking lane or as a route past queuing traffic, and do not ride on the hatched markings when merging onto a motorway.

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Luas Tram Tracks and Urban Light Rail Hazards

Riding a motorcycle or moped in urban environments with on-street tram networks (such as the Luas Red and Green lines in Dublin) introduces unique physical risks that can easily cause severe falls:

1. Extremely Low Friction on Steel Rails

Tram rails are made of smooth, hardened steel, and the Rules of the Road warns that tram tracks can be slippery, especially when wet.

• Hazard: Braking, accelerating hard or leaning while a tyre is on a wet rail can make the tyre slide.
• Rider Technique: Always keep the motorcycle upright when passing over rails. Maintain a steady, neutral throttle. Never apply brakes, accelerate sharply, or lean while tyres are in contact with the steel rail.

2. Flangeway Grooves and Trapping (Tramlining)

Luas rails feature a recessed groove (the flangeway) where the tram wheel flange runs.

• Hazard: Motorcycle and moped tyres—particularly narrower front tyres—can drop into this groove if crossing at a shallow angle. Once trapped, the wheel is violently steered along the rail track ("tramlining"), destabilizing the motorcycle and throwing the rider.
• Rider Technique: The Rules of the Road advises two-wheeled riders to cross tram rails at a right angle (90 degrees) or as close to it as possible, and to avoid braking while on the rails. Plan your road position well in advance to square up your motorcycle before crossing the rails, whilst ensuring you do not compromise your lane safety with surrounding traffic.

3. Tram Lanes and Overhead Lines

Trams draw power from overhead electric lines, so obey any height or clearance warnings if you carry a tall load. You must not park in a tram lane while it is in force; tram lanes operate 24 hours a day unless an information plate shows another period.

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Bus Lanes

Bus lanes are sections of road reserved for buses. You will see an upright blue and white sign on a pole and, on the road, a continuous white line with the words 'Lána Bus'. An information plate shows when the lane is in force; the Rules of the Road says bus lanes normally operate from 7am to 7pm or during peak hours.

Motorcycles are not among the users the Rules of the Road names for bus lanes, so treat a bus lane as closed to you during its hours of operation.

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Parking, Stopping and Leaving Your Motorcycle

General parking rules

The Rules of the Road's general parking rules include:

• Where possible, park in the direction of traffic flow, close to and parallel with the kerb, and fully within any marked parking bay.
• Switch off the engine and secure the vehicle as you leave it.
• Do not leave headlights on when parked; if lights are needed, use only side or parking lights.
• Do not block other road users' view of a traffic signal or the road ahead, or the entrance to a property.

On a motorcycle, apply those rules sensibly: put the machine on its side or centre stand on firm, level ground, because a stand can sink into a soft verge or hot tarmac; switch off the ignition, take the key, and use the steering lock.

Places where you must not park

Even if there is no sign or yellow line, the Rules of the Road says you must not stop or park:

• On a zebra or pelican crossing or at pedestrian lights, on the zig-zag lines either side of them, or 15 metres before or 5 metres after a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights
• Within 5 metres of a road junction, unless parking spaces are clearly marked
• Where there is a single or double continuous white line along the centre of the road
• On a footpath, grass margin, cycle lane or track, or median strip
• In a contra-flow bus lane at any time, or in a with-flow bus lane during its hours
• At a bus stop, taxi rank or loading bay, in a tram lane while it is in force, or on the approach to a level crossing
• Near the entrance or exit of a fire, ambulance or Garda station, at a school entrance marked 'SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR', in a disabled persons parking space without a permit, or where the kerb has been lowered for wheelchair users

You must never park at a corner, a bend, the brow of a hill, on a hump-back bridge, where there is a sharp dip, or anywhere that blocks the view of a school warden.

Clearways and disc parking

A clearway must be kept clear for moving traffic during the times on its information plate: vehicles may stop only while waiting in a line of traffic. In disc parking areas you must buy a disc, leave the space by the time it expires, and not park again on the same street within one hour.

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Summary of Road Markings & Rules