Mississippi driving lesson · Pavement Markings & Lane Use
Center lines & lane lines
A 3-minute lesson from the Mississippi course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Pavement markings are rules painted on the road, and you must obey them. Color tells you direction: yellow lines separate traffic going opposite ways; white lines separate lanes going the same way. A solid line says stay put; a broken line says you may cross when it's safe.
Know the rule
Main highways are marked with center lines, lane lines and directional arrows. You must observe and comply with these markings.
A broken yellow line separates lanes moving in opposite directions. You may cross into the oncoming lane ONLY to pass, and only when it's safe to pass.
A broken yellow line next to a solid yellow line: if the broken line is closest to your lane, you may pass with caution. If the solid line is closest to your lane, passing is forbidden.
Single solid white line (top) and double solid white line (bottom)
Put it into practice
You're on a two-lane road behind a slow tractor. The center line is solid yellow on your side and broken yellow on the far side. You may not pass. Wait until the broken line is on your side and the oncoming lane is clear.
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.
You are on a two-lane road with a solid yellow line nearest your lane and a broken yellow line on the other side. May you pass?
No, passing is forbidden
Yes, if the vehicle ahead is under the speed limit
Yes, if no other cars are visible
Yes, because a broken line exists somewhere in the pair
Answer: No, passing is forbidden
When the solid line is closest to your lane, passing is forbidden even though the far side has a broken line.
