Road Marking

Bare Roads

Roads are not kept bare but signs are added on to it to make for smooth traffic flow. Thus, these signs are important for they ensure safety and minimize chaos. Markings and signs are painted on the road to guide motorists and pedestrians. A road marking can be a line pattern, words or colours. These can be either painted on the road or on the surface of the kerb. Road users are expected to respect these markings and follow the mentioned rules.

Traffic Paints

Paints are usually used for making markings on the road. One can also find thermoplastic strips, road studs or even cat’s eyes used for making these markings on the road. These markings are important because they ensure the safety of the road users and also ensure smooth traffic flow. Even though road signs and other devices keep giving road safety messages, these colourful markings add to these messages to ensure a safe ride.

White Lines

White markings are used to indicate carriageway markings. If restrictions have to be indicated, then yellow markings are used. If you find white or yellow together and painted along with black lines, then they mean these are kerb markings or object markings.

Centre Line

Centre Line Marking for a two lane Road

A centre line is the one that you find on an undivided road. In such a case, this line acts as a boundary and keeps the opposing streams of traffic in their respective places and does not allow these streams to overlap, thus ensuring smooth traffic flow and safety. The centre line is drawn in different ways. It can be either a single line or a broken line or a bold line. Sometimes, the centre line is also a mixture of solid and broken lines. Such a centre line should never be crossed. If you happen to pass by a road that has two centre lines, one which is a solid line and the other happens to be a broken line, then the solid line is important if it is on to the left. The driver should take utmost care not to cross this centre line.

Lane line: Lane line and broken centre line

Centre Barrier Lines

Centre barrier line marking for a four lane road

Centre barrier line marking for a six lane road

Double white/yellow lines

In roads, where there is less visibility, double continuous lines are drawn. The traffic is not allowed to cross this line from either side.

Combination of solid and broken lines

• If you are on the side of the broken line, then you can cross the line, provided it is safe and not dangerous to do so.
• You should never cross the line if the line happens to be continuous and not a breaking one.

Stop Line

A stop line is one which you find before a road intersection. This stop line is usually a lone solid slanting line.  Here is where you need to stop at the instructions of the duty traffic police. The traffic signals are also located on this line. Usually, the pedestrian crossing is also marked at this juncture but the stop line will be before the crossing to facilitate the pedestrians.

Give Way Line

A double dotted slanting line is observed at road junctions and this is the give way line. You will also find a red reverse triangle on this sign. It allows the traffic to move on the main road.

Border or Edge Lines

These are border lines as they tell the driver till which edge can he drive safely. These lines are usually drawn on the edge of the carriageway.

Parking Prohibited Lines

A no-parking sign either on a continuous yellow line on the kerb or on the edge, means that much area is the no-parking zone.

Yellow Box Junctions or Keep Clear

Yellow box junctions are yellow diagonal lines within a small box. It means that the drivers can pass it only if there is enough space ahead of this junction. In no ways, can a driver stop at this marking, even if it means stopping for a brief period of time.

Pedestrian Crossings

Pedestrian crossings are also called zebra lines for there are black and white stripes painted parallel to the road. Pedestrians are expected to follow the traffic lights and cross only at these points. The drivers have to stop at these signs to allow the pedestrians to pass. These markings are important and the drivers have to respect them for they grant the right of passing or moving or crossing the road to pedestrians.