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Arizona driving lesson · Speed Limits, Signs & Markings

Lane lines: yellow and white

A 3-minute lesson from the Arizona course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Speed Limits, Signs & Markings
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
44, 45, 46

Pavement markings guide, warn and regulate. Color is the first clue: yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions; white lines separate lanes going the same way and mark road edges, stop lines and crosswalks. Solid means restricted; broken means you may cross with care.

Know the rule

Yellow center lines mean two-way traffic, flowing in both directions.

Handbook p. 45 ↗

Know the rule

White lines separate same-direction lanes and mark the edge of the roadway, stop lines and pedestrian crosswalks.

Handbook p. 45 ↗

Yellow lines

Yellow lines
MarkingMeaning
Broken yellowPassing on the left allowed when clear
Broken yellow on your side of a solidYou may pass when the road ahead is clear
Solid yellow on your sideYou may not pass
Double solid yellowNo passing either way; cross only to turn left
Handbook p. 45 ↗
Broken white line
Broken yellow center line
Solid and broken yellow lines
Solid and broken yellow lines
Double solid yellow lines
Double solid yellow lines

Know the rule

When passing across a broken yellow line you face oncoming traffic — overtake and pass with extreme caution.

Handbook p. 45 ↗

White lines

White lines
MarkingMeaning
Broken whiteSame-direction lanes; cross with caution after signaling
Solid whiteTurn lanes; prevents lane changes near intersections
Solid white at right edgeCross only in emergency or to avoid a hazard
Double solid whiteSame-direction lanes; crossing is prohibited
Handbook p. 46 ↗
Broken white line
Broken white lane lines

Know the rule

You may cross a solid white line when merging into and out of the HOV lane.

Handbook p. 46 ↗

Know the rule

Single yellow lines may also mark the left edge of the pavement on divided highways and one-way streets.

Handbook p. 46 ↗

Put it into practice

You're on a two-lane road. The line on your side is solid yellow; the other side's is broken. Oncoming drivers may pass — you may not.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What does a yellow center line generally indicate about the roadway?
  1. One-way traffic only
  2. Lanes moving the same direction
  3. The right edge of the roadway
  4. Two-way traffic flowing in both directions

Answer: Two-way traffic flowing in both directions

Yellow center lines indicate two-way traffic flowing in both directions.

Handbook p. 44 ↗
What does a broken yellow line generally allow, when the roadway ahead is clear?
  1. No passing under any condition
  2. Lane changes in the same direction only
  3. Passing on the left
  4. Passing on the right only

Answer: Passing on the left

Broken yellow lines indicate that passing on the left is permitted when the roadway is clear.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
If you see a broken yellow line on your side paired with a solid yellow line on the other side, what does that mean for you?
  1. You are on a one-way street
  2. You may pass when the way is clear
  3. You may never pass
  4. You must always yield to oncoming traffic

Answer: You may pass when the way is clear

If the broken yellow line is on your side, you may pass when it's clear; the solid line side may not pass.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
What do double solid yellow lines mean?
  1. No passing in either direction
  2. Passing is allowed in both directions
  3. The road is one-way
  4. Passing allowed with extra caution

Answer: No passing in either direction

Double solid yellow lines mean passing is not allowed in either direction, except to turn left.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
A double solid white line separating two lanes going the same direction means what?
  1. Crossing it is allowed with caution
  2. It marks a bicycle lane
  3. It marks a bus-only lane
  4. Crossing it is prohibited

Answer: Crossing it is prohibited

Crossing a double solid white line is prohibited.

Handbook p. 46 ↗
Broken yellow lines separate lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: False

False. Broken white lines separate lanes going in the same direction; broken yellow lines separate traffic going in opposite directions.

Handbook p. 45 ↗
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