| DIVIDING LINES |
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A dividing line is a road marking formed by a white/yellow line or two parallel white/yellow lines (broken or continous) designed to seperate the parts of a road to be used by vehicles travelling in opposite directions.
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| Broken Line (or Broken Line to the left
of a Continous Line) |
You must keep to the left of these lines. You may cross them to overtake or make a turn, but you must only do so if it is safe.
 
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| Single Continuous Line (or Single Continous
Line to the left of a Broken Line) |
| You must keep to the left of these lines. You must not cross these lines to overtake or make a U-Turn but may cross them to enter or leave the road or to go past an obstruction.
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| Parallel Lines |
 You must keep to the left and must not cross these lines, unless you have to avoid an obstruction.
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| Avoiding an obstruction |
 You
are permitted to cross single or double continous lines in order to
avoid an obstruction - This does not include a slower moving vehicle
or a vehicle stopped in a line of traffic, but may include a fallen
tree, a crashed vehicle, or a car that has broken down or is illegally
parked. Before crossing the line, you must have a clear view of the
road ahead and it must be safe. You must also be very sure that you
cross safely because the onus is on you to take the risk of danger
into account. |
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| DIVIDING LINE VS LANE LINE |
| A "Lane" is the space between two lines (or
a line and the kerb) painted to divide the road into two or more lines
of traffic travelling in the same direction. A "Laned" road therefore
has at least 2 Lanes. A road without marked lanes is an "Unlaned"
road regardless of its width. A "Multi-lane" Road is a one-way road
or a two-way road with 2 or more marked lanes that are on the side
of the dividing strip or median strip (road divider) where the driver
is driving and for the use of vehicles travelling in the same direction. |
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| Broken Lane Line: |
| When lanes are marked by broken lines the driver may change lanes when it is safe to do so by indicating the intention through proper signal. |
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| Straddling: |
| When driving on a road marked with Lane Lines,
you must keep your vehicle entirely within a lane. It is an offence
to straddle a line. The green car in the illustration is straddling
the lane line. |
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| Solid Lane Line: |
The
lanes near intersections are often marked by Solid Lane Lines where
no lane changing is permissible.
The traffic driving along such lanes bound by solid lines has to move
along the same direction or the direction indicated by road marking
arrows thus a No-Lane changing zone is created near intersection to
prevent last minute change of direction by the traffic, that may obstruct
the smooth flow of traffic & cause accidents. Motorists are expected
to change lanes while driving in the Lane Change Zone (marked by lanes
with broken lines) so that they are in the appropriate line when they
enter the No Lane Changing Zone near the intersection. (marked by
Solid Lane Lines) . The red car in the illustration is committing
an offence. |
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| EDGE LINES: |
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These are continous lines at the edge of the carriageway and mark the limits of the main carriageway upto which a driver can safely venture.
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| Yellow Edge Lines: |
You
must not stop or park your vehicle in any area where a continous yellow
edge line is applied even to pick up or set down passengers or goods.
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