8.3 Road Markings & Hand Signals

Paint and hands complete what posts begin

Posts and panels (Sections 8.1–8.2) are only part of the Highway Code language. Road markings are the lines and symbols on the carriageway that show alignment, lane count, where you may overtake, which lane to use for turning, and where you must stop. The Code stresses that markings should ideally be reflective so you can follow them at night. Hand signals fill the gap when trafficators (indicators) fail or when you need a redundant clear intention — and marshals / flaggers can override ordinary flow at works or controlled points.

Quick Answer (centre lines): Lines in the centre separate traffic in opposite directions. Broken centre line → overtaking may be allowed when safe and the road ahead is clear. Solid line on your side (alongside a broken line) → you may not overtake across it. Double solid centre lines → overtaking forbidden for both directions. Edge lines are solid lines along the side of the road. Zebra / crosswalk markings mean stop for pedestrians who have stepped on. Hand signals: arm sideways for the turn direction; use a clear arm signal to show you will slow or stop when lights fail.

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Four major types of road markings

The Highway Code groups markings into four major types:

1. Centre lines
2. Edge lines
3. Crosswalks (including zebra patterns)
4. Pavement messages (letters and symbols painted on the surface)

Plus related features the Code treats in the same section: diagonal lines, lanes, lane arrows at junctions, and special cases such as level crossings.

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Centre lines — the overtaking legality map

Centre lines sit in the middle of the road to separate traffic proceeding in opposite directions.

Code language to memorise:

• “You may not overtake if the solid line is on your side of the center line.”
• “Overtaking for traffic in both directions is strictly forbidden where the center is marked by double solid lines.”
• “Do not overtake unless you can see the road ahead is clear.”

The overtaking chapter of the Code also lists solid line nearer you among situations where you must not overtake — same rule, reinforced.

Exam trap: Seeing a broken line on the other side and thinking you may cross when the solid is still nearest you. Always ask: which line is on my side?

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Edge lines

Edge lines are solid lines along the side of the road. They:

• Show where the edge is
• Act as traffic guidance
• May slant toward the centre to forewarn that the road narrows ahead
• May be crossed only by traffic moving to and from the shoulder

Do not treat the shoulder beyond the edge line as an overtaking lane. Edge lines are guidance and boundary, not an invitation to dual-track oncoming traffic.

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Crosswalks, stop lines, and give-way markings

Crosswalks and zebra lines

• White solid lines across the road often denote pedestrian crosswalks, commonly at intersections. You must stop for pedestrians at crosswalks.
• Zebra lines indicate where pedestrians can cross. You must stop for pedestrians that have stepped on the lines. In queues, leave the pedestrian crossing clear.
• Highway Code pedestrian guidance also notes you have no right of way as a pedestrian until you have stepped on the crossing — once you have, traffic should give way. As a driver, the safe exam answer is: stop for people on the zebra / crosswalk.

Stop lines

A solid white line across the road, usually at an intersection, shows where you MUST stop for a STOP sign, a GIVE WAY situation as marked, or a red traffic light. Stop at the line (or where you can still see the lights), not halfway into the junction.

Give-way line patterns

A junction with double broken white lines across the road may also have a GIVE WAY sign. You must slow down and be ready to stop to let traffic on the major road go first. Link this paint rule to the inverted triangular Give Way sign from Section 8.1.

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Diagonal lines, pavement messages, and lane arrows

Diagonal lines

Diagonal markings are painted for protection, to separate traffic, or to prevent certain turns (e.g. left-turn protection areas in the Code’s wording). Do not drive on these areas if you can avoid doing so. Treat hatched diagonal zones as “keep out unless essential and safe,” not as fancy decoration.

Pavement messages

Letters and symbols painted on the road warn of conditions ahead or assign lanes (for example turn-only messages paired with arrows). Read them early — at speed you have little time to jump lanes after the word “ONLY” appears under your bumper.

Lanes and lane arrows

• Lanes are spaces demarcated to guide traffic in the same or opposite direction.
• The Code notes that for traffic in the same direction the lines are normally yellow, while lines separating opposite directions are usually white (learn the principle; some sites vary in practice — exam items still stress broken = may cross when permitted, solid = do not cross).
• Broken lines may be crossed when rules allow; solid lines are not expected to be crossed.
• Lane rules: keep between the markings; stay in the right-hand lane unless overtaking, turning left, or passing parked vehicles (Nigeria’s right-hand traffic system).
• Changing lanes: mirrors first, signal if safe, do not force another driver to swerve or slow.
• At junctions: obey lane indication arrows marked on the road.
• Traffic islands: pass on the right of the island unless signs or markings say otherwise.

Bus / taxi markings

Where roads mark bus stops, taxi ranks, or reserved lanes, respect those allocations. Entering a marked bus/taxi bay to “jump the queue” or blocking a marked public-transport stop is both unsafe and a common enforcement target. If a stem describes a clearly marked bus or taxi area, the correct choice is do not occupy it as a private parking or overtaking strip.

Box / junction blocking

The Code’s junction guidance is clear in spirit even where a yellow box paint pattern is not universal on every Nigerian street: do not block the junction. Do not go forward on green if vehicles ahead are stuck and you would stop in the intersection. Leave space so cross traffic and pedestrians can still move. Yellow box-style junction markings, where provided, reinforce the same rule: do not enter unless your exit is clear (with limited right-turn waiting logic only where that system is marked and taught — default CBT safety answer remains keep the junction clear).

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Hand signals when indicators fail

Trafficators (indicators) are the normal way to show intention. The Code still expects drivers to understand hand signals — especially when lights fail, are obscured, or when an extra clear signal helps (for example when making a left turn). Signal your own intention only; do not relay signals for other drivers — leave that to authorised officers.

Core driver hand signals (exam set)

Give signals in good time, check mirrors, and complete the manoeuvre only when safe. Cyclist sections of the Code use the same sideways arm rule for turns: left arm for left, right arm for right — useful consistency for multi-user awareness.

Scenario — Failed right indicator. Ada’s right trafficator is dead. Before a right turn she extends her right arm sideways early, slows, checks mirrors and blind spot, and turns only when safe. She does not rely on a last-second wave after she has already entered the path of following traffic.

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Marshal and flagger signals (brief recap)

Authorised traffic marshals, police, FRSC officers, and work-zone flaggers can direct traffic with arms, batons, or STOP / SLOW paddles and flags.

• Flaggers in work zones wear high-visibility orange or yellow-green clothing and use paddles/flags to stop traffic or allow workers and plant to cross.
• A vertical stop arm/paddle means stop — not “creep forward because you are late.”
• When a marshal waves a stream of traffic on, proceed if safe but do not assume the opposite stream has also been released.
• Never invent “friendly” signals to pull another private driver through a hazard; the Code says leave relay signalling to authorised officers.

Orange work-zone context + flagger paddle overrides your assumption that a green light or empty-looking lane still owns the road.

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Level crossings and markings (safety close)

Markings and signs together at rail crossings demand special discipline:

• Never drive nose-to-tail over a level crossing.
• Never enter unless the rail and the far side are clear.
• Never stop on or immediately after the crossing.
• Gated / light-controlled: do not cross once lights flash or gates close.
• Ungated without lights: stop, look, listen; always give way to trains.
• If already on the crossing when lights start, keep going to clear — then the emergency drill if you stall (evacuate people first, then try to clear the vehicle, then contact signal staff).

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Integrated CBT scenarios

Scenario 1 — Solid nearer you. On a two-lane road, the centre is solid on Emeka’s side and broken on the oncoming side. A slow truck tempts him. He must not overtake across the solid on his side, even if the far line is broken.

Scenario 2 — Double solid. Chinedu faces double solid lines on a blind crest. No overtaking either way. Patience is the legal answer.

Scenario 3 — Zebra in a queue. Traffic stops; Amaka leaves her bumper on the zebra stripes. Wrong — leave the crossing clear and stop for pedestrians who step on.

Scenario 4 — Lane arrow. Road marking shows left-turn only. Bode wants to go straight. He should have changed lanes earlier; once in the arrowed lane he must follow the arrow or safely exit the trap only if markings and traffic still allow a legal correction — exam preference is obey the arrow.

Scenario 5 — Hand signal + mirror. Funke’s indicators failed. She still checks mirrors before extending her arm; a hand signal is not a substitute for observation.

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Memory stack for Section 8.3

1. Broken centre → may cross when safe
2. Solid on your side → no overtake
3. Double solid → no overtake either way
4. Edge line → road edge / narrowing cue; shoulder access only
5. Stop line → stop for STOP / lights / control
6. Zebra → stop for pedestrians on it; keep clear in queues
7. Diagonal hatch → avoid driving on it
8. Arrows → obey turning lane
9. Hands → left/right arm out; slow/stop arm cue when lights fail
10. Marshals/flaggers → obey authorised control

Master this stack and you connect Chapter 5 overtaking rules, Chapter 7 signals, and Chapter 8 signs into one readable road picture for the 35-question CBT.

Hand-signal timing checklist

1. Mirror — is anyone close behind or alongside?
2. Signal early — arm out before you change position.
3. Position — move only when safe, arm still communicating.
4. Manoeuvre — turn or stop smoothly.
5. Cancel — return hand to the wheel; do not drive long distances with only one hand casually dangling.

Paint + sign pairs to drill

If either the paint or the post is faded, obey whichever control is still readable and default to the safer interpretation (yield, stop, no overtake) when visibility is poor.