A 3-minute lesson from the Pennsylvania course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Lines on the pavement tell you who's beside you and whether you may cross over. Color tells direction: yellow separates opposite directions, white separates lanes going your way. Style tells permission: broken lines may be crossed, solid lines may not.
Know the rule
Yellow lines divide traffic traveling in opposite directions. They mark the center of two-lane roads and the left edge of divided highways, one-way streets and ramps.
Single broken yellow centerline (two-way, two-lane road): passing is permitted on either side if safe. When passing, you use the lane belonging to oncoming traffic.
On many three-lane or five-lane highways, an outside solid yellow line means you cannot use the center lane for passing; the inside broken and solid yellow lines mean traffic from either direction may use it only for left turns.
On a two-lane road you're behind a slow tractor. The centerline on your side is solid yellow with a broken line 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.
What do yellow lines on a roadway generally divide?
Traffic traveling in the same direction
Traffic moving in opposite directions
Bike lanes from car lanes
Parking lanes from travel lanes
Answer: Traffic moving in opposite directions
Yellow lines mark the center of two-way roads and divide opposing traffic.
