Transport Department - White Lines and Traffic Lanes

Along the road

Traffic lane line	Centre line	Warning line
The longer the marking, the greater the hazard.

Two-way roads

If there is a traffic island with a ʻKeep leftʼ sign in the middle of the road, pass to the left of the island. You must not drive to the right.

A single broken line in the middle of the road, with short markings and long gaps, is a centre line. You should normally drive to the left of this line except when overtaking.

A single broken line on the road with long markings and short gaps, is a warning line. This is to give warning of a hazard ahead. Do not cross it unless you can see the road ahead is clear. Drive with particular care.

Traffic lanes

Keep between the traffic lane lines - the short broken white lines which divide the road into lanes. Keep in the left most lane unless you are overtaking, turning right or passing parked vehicles.

The warning line may replace the normal lane line or centre line near a hazard.

Do not change lanes unless it is safe to do so.

Do not move unnecessarily from lane to lane. If you need to move to another lane, first look to see that it is safe to do so, remembering to use the mirrors. If it is safe to move over, signal before doing so. Make sure this will not force other drivers to swerve or slow down.

In a traffic hold-up or in slow moving traffic, do not try to jump the queue by cutting into another lane or by overtaking the vehicles waiting in front of you.

Hazard warning area

An area formed by warning lines and hatched marking. It is there to separate traffic streams liable to be a danger to one another or to protect traffic turning right. Do not drive over or enter the area.

Along the edge of the road

Edge lines - on some roads, solid or broken white lines are marked on the edge of the roadway.

Hazard markers - these small discs or rectangular markers (see signs 65 to 67 on page 118) are found on roadside objects or special posts to indicate the edge of the road or an obstruction near the edge. Red markers are used on the left edge of a road; white markers are used on the right edge of a single carriageway and amber markers are used on the right edge of the central reservation of a dual carriageway.

Reflecting road studs

Road studs delineate the edges of a carriageway or the division of traffic lanes. These help drivers at night or in poor visibility.

White studs mark the lane lines and the centre of a road. Red studs mark the left edge of a carriageway. Amber studs mark the right edge of a carriageway adjacent to the central reservation. Green studs indicate the edge of the carriageway at a road junction, lay-by or passing place.