Road
markings
Along the road
| Centre
line on a single carriageway road |
Lane
line separating traffic travelling in the same direction (single
or dual carriageway road) |
Hazard
warning line (replaces a centre lineor a lane line). An upright
sign may indicate the nature of the hazard,such as a bend. The
marking is used also on the approach to a junction |
 |
junctionDiagonal
white lines (hatched markings) bounded by broken lines may be
used in the centre of the road to separate opposing flows of traffic.
They are often provided at junctions to protect traffic turning
right. They may also be used on the approach to a central traffic
island or the startof a dual carriageway. Hatched markings with
a single, broken boundary line may be usedat the edge of the road
or next to the central reservation of a dual carriageway: the
diagonal lines always slope towards the direction of travel. You
should not enter any hatched area bounded by a broken line unless
it is safe to do soRoad markingsAlong the road 63 Part of the
carriageway where traffic passes in the same direction on either
side of the chevron marking. Vehicles should not enter the area
unless safe to do so. This marking is likely tobe found in one-way
streets with central islands and where an exit lane leaves at
a junctionPart of the carriagewaywhere traffic passes in the same
direction on either side of the chevron marking. The continuous
boundary line means that vehicles mustnot enter the area except
in an emergency. This markingis used where slip roadsleave and
join motorways andmany dual carriageway roads. It is also used
for segregatedleft-turn lanes at roundaboutsArrow indicating the
direction in which to pass hatched markings and double white lines,
or the route that high vehicles should take under a low arch bridge
(may be reversed)Reduction in the number of lanes, or area not
available to traffic. Vehicles must not cross the continuous white
line except in an emergency. Used on the right-hand side of a
motorway, dual carriageway road or slip road road markings |
| Part
of the carriageway where traffic passes in the same direction
on either side of the chevron marking. Vehicles should not enter
the area unless safe to do so. This marking is likely tobe found
in one-way streets with central islands and where an exit lane
leaves at a junction |
Part
of the carriagewaywhere traffic passes in the same direction on
either side of the chevron marking. The continuous boundary line
means that vehicles mustnot enter the area except in an emergency.
This markingis used where slip roadsleave and join motorways andmany
dual carriageway roads. It is also used for segregatedleft-turn
lanes at roundabouts |
Double
white lines
Double white linesThese are used to prevent overtaking where visibility
is restricted,and to separate opposing traffic flows on steep hills
with climbinglanes. Double continuous lines are also sometimes used
on othersingle carriageway roads that have two lanes in at least onedirection.
Viewed in the direction of travel, if the line closest to youis continuous,
you must not cross or straddle it (except to turninto or out of a
side road or property, avoid a stationary vehicleblocking the lane,
or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road worksvehicle moving at not
more than 10 mph). Where the line closestto you is broken, you may
cross the lines to overtake if it is safe todo so. Stopping is prohibited
on any length of road that hasdouble white lines, even if the line
on that side of the road isbroken. The exceptions are stopping to
pick up or set downpassengers, or to load or unload. In these circumstances,
youshould park off the main carriageway wherever possible.
Along
the edge of the road
| Edge
of carriageway, other than at junctions, exits from private drives
and lay-bys. Used on the left-hand side of the road and alongside
the central reservation of dual carriageway roads |
Alternative
edge of carriageway marking, with raised ribs to provide audible
and tactile warnings when the line is being crossed. They are
used on motorways and other roads with hard shoulders or hard
marginal strips |
At
junctions
Some conventional
roundabouts may have a segregated left-turn lane where drivers do
not give way to traffic on the roundabout. This may be separated from
the roundabout by either a solid island or chevron markings. Where
the chevrons are bounded by continuous lines, vehicles must not enter
the area except in an emergency. You should therefore choose the correct
lane well before the roundabout. A directional sign in advance of
the junction may show the segregated lane
