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Road markings

The paint carries as much meaning as the signposts.

Box junction

Meaning. Do not enter unless your exit is clear.

What you must do. Wait before the box until you can clear it. The exception is turning right, when you may wait in the box if you are held only by oncoming traffic.

Remember it

Only enter if you can leave.

On the road. Enforced by camera in many places. Waiting one car back costs seconds and avoids a penalty notice.

Shape
marking
Colours
Yellow criss-cross on carriageway
Where you see it
Busy junctions, Outside fire and ambulance stations

Often confused with

  • Zig-zag lines at a crossing — Zig-zags mark the approach to a pedestrian crossing and restrict parking and overtaking.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

BUS LANE

Bus lane

Meaning. A lane reserved for buses and other permitted users during the hours shown.

What you must do. Do not drive or park in it during its hours of operation. Check the sign for times and permitted users.

Remember it

The paint says where; the sign says when.

On the road. If no times are shown on the sign, the lane operates 24 hours a day.

Shape
marking
Colours
White on carriageway, with a blue sign
Where you see it
Urban main roads, Approaches to town centres

Often confused with

  • Contraflow bus lane — A contraflow bus lane runs against the general flow of traffic and is marked accordingly.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

Double white lines, solid nearest you

Meaning. You must not cross or straddle the lines except in limited circumstances.

What you must do. Do not cross to overtake. You may cross to enter premises or a side road, to pass a stationary vehicle, or to overtake a cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle travelling at 10 mph or less.

Remember it

Solid on your side, it applies to you.

On the road. Where the line nearest you is broken, you may cross if it is safe. Look at your side, not the middle.

Shape
marking
Colours
White on carriageway
Where you see it
Bends, Brows of hills, Roads with limited forward visibility

Often confused with

  • Hazard warning line — A hazard warning line is a single line with long marks and short gaps — a warning, not a prohibition.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

Give way markings

Meaning. Give way to traffic on the major road.

What you must do. Slow, look, and be prepared to stop at the line.

Remember it

Broken line across your lane: give way. Solid line across: stop.

On the road. A solid line across your lane accompanies a STOP sign and requires a complete stop every time.

Shape
marking
Colours
White on carriageway
Where you see it
Side road junctions, Roundabout entries

Often confused with

  • Double white lines, solid nearest you — Double white lines run along the road; give way markings run across it.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

Hazard warning line

Meaning. There is a hazard ahead, such as a bend, junction or hidden dip.

What you must do. Do not cross unless you can see the road is clear well beyond the hazard.

Remember it

More paint than gap means more danger than usual.

On the road. The paint is telling you your view is about to fail. Overtaking here is rarely a good idea even though it is legal.

Shape
marking
Colours
White on carriageway
Where you see it
Approaches to bends and junctions

Often confused with

  • Ordinary centre line — An ordinary centre line has short marks and long gaps — the opposite proportions.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

Ordinary centre line

Meaning. The centre of a two-way road, with nothing unusual ahead.

What you must do. Keep to the left of it. Cross only to overtake when it is safe and legal.

Remember it

Short marks, long gaps: routine.

On the road. Learning to read the ratio of paint to gap is a quick way to sense a road's character before you can see round it.

Shape
marking
Colours
White on carriageway
Where you see it
Most two-way roads

Often confused with

  • Hazard warning line — Hazard warning lines have longer paint and shorter gaps.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

Zig-zag lines at a crossing

Meaning. The controlled approach to a pedestrian crossing.

What you must do. Do not park, and do not overtake the moving vehicle nearest the crossing or the leading vehicle that has stopped to give way.

Remember it

Zig-zags: nothing parked, nothing overtaking, nobody hidden.

On the road. The whole purpose is sight lines. A parked van on the zig-zags hides exactly the child the crossing exists to protect.

Shape
marking
Colours
White on carriageway
Where you see it
Zebra, pelican, puffin and toucan crossings

Often confused with

  • Box junction — Box junction markings are yellow and criss-crossed, and are about keeping a junction clear.

Source: The Highway Code · Last checked

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