2.4 Pavement Markings: Line Types, Word Markings & Bicycle and Pedestrian Markings
Key Takeaways
Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions, and yellow should always be on your left; white lines separate same-direction lanes and mark the right edge.
A broken line means crossing or passing is permitted with care; a solid line on your side means you may not pass; double solid yellow means no passing in either direction.
You may make a left turn across a double solid yellow line, for example into a driveway.
Double broken yellow lines mark reversible lanes, and a solid line plus a broken line on each side marks a two-way left-turn lane.
Yield lines are rows of small triangles that show where you must yield, and the stop line is a solid white line showing where to stop.
Why Markings Matter
Pavement markings give "important guidance and information without requiring you to look away from the road." Some lines are extra wide or have reflective markers to draw attention. Two rules hold everything together:
- Yellow separates traffic moving in opposite directions and marks the left edge of the road. Yellow should never be on your right.
- White separates lanes moving in the same direction and marks the right edge of the road.
In fog, rain or darkness, use these colors as a guide: the right edge line (white) and the yellow line on your left keep you in your lane.
Line Types in the Maryland Manual
| Marking | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Single broken white | Separates same-direction lanes; changing lanes is permitted. Used on roads with more than one lane each way. |
| Single solid white | Marks the right edge of the road. Between same-direction lanes it means changing lanes is discouraged. |
| Double solid white | Same-direction lanes where changing lanes is not allowed; may separate general lanes from HOV lanes, or appear before an obstruction you may pass on either side. |
| Single broken yellow | Center line on a two-lane, two-way road; passing with care is permitted in either direction. |
| Single solid yellow | Marks the left edge of divided highways, one-way roads and ramps. |
| Double solid yellow | Opposing traffic; passing is not allowed in either direction. You may turn left across it, for example into a driveway. |
| Solid plus broken yellow | Passing is allowed for traffic on the broken-line side and not allowed for traffic on the solid-line side. |
| Double broken yellow | Marks the edges of reversible lanes; enter and exit as signs and signals permit. |
| Two-way left-turn lane edges | Solid yellow on the outside and broken yellow on the inside of a center lane used for left turns from both directions. |
| Single dotted (yellow or white) | Continues lane lines through intersections; stay inside them while you turn or cross. |
Using a Two-Way Left-Turn Lane
Enter the center lane only to slow down and wait for a gap before turning left, or to wait after turning out of a driveway. Do not use it as a travel lane or a passing lane. Drivers from the opposite direction use the same lane, so watch for them ahead.
Passing and the Center Line
Passing is legal only where the line on your side is broken and the road ahead is clear. Even with a broken line, the passing rules in Section 3.4 still apply: no passing near hilltops, curves, intersections, railroad crossings or obstructed bridges. Maryland law makes one narrow exception for bicycles: you may cross into the left side of a no-passing zone just enough to pass a bicycle at a safe distance, while yielding to the cyclist and to oncoming traffic.
Other Pavement Markings
- Stop line: a solid white line showing where to stop for a STOP sign or a red signal.
- Yield line: a row of small triangles across the lane showing where to yield to vehicles or pedestrians.
- Word and symbol markings tell you how to use a lane, warn of lane reductions, show direction of travel, combine arrows with words to show permitted moves, and give advance warning with "SCHOOL" and "RxR" (railroad crossing) markings.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Markings
Most Maryland roads that bicycles share with cars have no special signs or markings, but some, mostly in cities, have:
- Shared-use lane markings (a bicycle symbol with chevrons). They alert drivers that bicyclists may be on the road, show cyclists where to ride, and discourage riding the wrong way.
- Bike lanes, separated from motor-vehicle lanes by solid or broken white lines and marked with bike-lane signs or bicycle symbols and arrows. Similar lines may separate a bike lane from a parking lane. You must yield to bicyclists in a bike lane when you enter or cross it (see Section 6.2).
- Crosswalk lines: solid white lines showing where pedestrians cross. Some crosswalks add lines between or instead of the two edge lines. Remember that most intersections have a crosswalk even if it is not marked.
Practice Scenarios
- On a two-lane road the center has a solid yellow line on your side and a broken yellow line on the other side. You may not pass, but oncoming drivers may.
- You want to turn left into a store driveway across a double solid yellow line. This is allowed when it is safe.
- You see triangles painted across your lane before a roundabout. They are yield lines, so stop there if needed and yield to traffic in the circle.
- Lanes are separated by double solid white lines near a tunnel. Stay in your lane until the lines become broken.
What do double broken yellow lines on a Maryland road mark?
The edges of a reversible lane
A shared bicycle lane
A no-passing zone in both directions
The left edge of an exit ramp
A row of small white triangles painted across your lane indicates what?
A speed hump ahead
A yield line showing where to yield to vehicles or pedestrians
A school zone boundary
A lane that will end ahead
Which statement about a double solid yellow center line is correct?
Passing is allowed when no oncoming traffic is visible
Only trucks may cross it
You may turn left across it, such as into a driveway, but may not pass
It marks the right edge of a one-way road
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.