Road markings: what every line means

Road markings work alongside signs, and some of them carry the force of law on their own: you can break a rule just by crossing a line, without a sign in sight. In the theory test they come up in the Rules of the Road and Road and Traffic Signs topics, often as a picture of a line with four meanings to choose from.

Everything here is from the Highway Code: rules 127 to 132, 238 to 243, and its road markings section.

Lines across the road

• A solid white line is a stop line. You'll see it at traffic lights, where a police officer is controlling traffic, and at junctions with a STOP sign. At a STOP sign you must stop at the line even if the road is clear.
• Broken white lines (often two of them) mean give way to traffic on the major road. A single broken line across the entrance to a roundabout or mini-roundabout means give way to traffic from your right.
• A white triangle painted on your side of the road warns that there's a give way line just ahead.

Lines along the middle of the road

Centre lines and hazard warning lines

A broken white line marks the middle of the road. When the painted lines get longer and the gaps shorter, it becomes a hazard warning line: there's a hazard ahead, such as a bend or junction. Don't cross it unless you can see the road is clear and you want to overtake or turn off.

Double white lines

What you can do depends on the line nearer to you:

• Broken line on your side: you may cross to overtake if it's safe, as long as you can finish before a solid line on your side. White arrows on the road tell you to get back over.
• Solid line on your side: you must not cross or straddle it, unless it's safe and you need to turn into a side road or property. You may also cross it, if the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or to overtake a cyclist, horse or road maintenance vehicle going at 10 mph or less.

You must not stop or park on a road marked with double white lines, even where the line on your side is broken, except to pick up or drop off passengers, or to load or unload.

Hatched areas and chevrons

Areas of diagonal stripes or chevrons separate lanes of traffic or protect traffic turning right.

• If the area has a broken white border, don't drive into it unless you need to and can see it's safe.
• If it's marked with chevrons and has a solid white border, you must not enter it except in an emergency.

Lane lines and studs

Short broken white lines divide wide roads into lanes: keep between them. At night, reflective studs help: white between lanes, red on the left edge, amber by the central reservation, green where slip roads and lay-bys join, and green and yellow for temporary layouts such as road works. Our motorway guide has a table.

Yellow lines: waiting and loading

Yellow lines along the edge of the road control waiting, and they apply to the road, the pavement and the verge.

• Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time, even if there are no signs, unless signs show seasonal restrictions.
• A single yellow line means no waiting at the times shown on nearby plates, or on the entry signs to a controlled parking zone.
• If no days are shown, the restrictions apply every day, including Sundays and bank holidays.
• You can usually stop on yellow lines to load or unload, or to let passengers get in or out, unless there are also loading restrictions.

Yellow marks on the kerb (short dashes across it) are loading restrictions: no loading or unloading at the times shown on the plates. One mark means restrictions at the times shown; two marks mean no loading at any time. You can still stop to let passengers get in or out.

Red routes

Some busy roads use red lines instead of yellow. On a red route you can't stop to park, load or unload, or to let passengers in or out, unless you're a licensed taxi or a Blue Badge holder. Double red lines mean no stopping at any time; single red lines apply at the times shown on nearby signs. Marked boxes show where and when stopping is allowed: a box marked in white is available all day, a box marked in red only at certain times.

Zig-zags and box markings

• White zig-zags at a pedestrian crossing: you must not park on them, and you must not overtake the vehicle nearest the crossing. See our pedestrian crossings guide.
• Yellow zig-zags marked “School keep clear”: keep the entrance clear, even to pick up or drop off children. Where an upright sign shows a stopping ban, you must not wait, park or stop on them.
• Criss-cross yellow lines mark a box junction. Don't enter until your exit is clear, unless you're turning right and only oncoming traffic is stopping you. See our junctions guide.
• KEEP CLEAR painted across the road means don't block that part of the road, even when traffic is queuing.

Where you mustn't park, even without lines

Lines aren't the only rule. The Highway Code also says not to stop or park, for example:

• within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, unless in a marked parking space
• near a school entrance, or at or near a bus or tram stop or taxi rank
• near the brow of a hill or a hump bridge, or on a bend
• opposite a traffic island
• where the kerb has been lowered for wheelchair and mobility scooter users
• on the approach to a level crossing, or anywhere you'd block emergency services.

What the theory test asks

• What does a long white line with short gaps mean? A hazard warning line: there's a hazard ahead.
• When can you cross a solid white line on your side? To turn into a side road or property, or to pass a stationary vehicle, or a cyclist, horse or road maintenance vehicle going at 10 mph or less, when it's safe.
• What do double yellow lines mean? No waiting at any time.
• What does a hatched area with a solid border mean? Don't enter it except in an emergency.
• How close to a junction can you park? Not within 10 metres, unless in a marked space.

Test yourself with our free road sign quiz, or practise the Rules of the Road topic in the app.