Washington driving lesson · Lane Markings and Special Zones
Reading lane lines
A 3-minute lesson from the Washington course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Road markings are lines, arrows, words, and symbols painted on the road. They divide lanes, show when you may pass or change lanes, mark turn lanes and walkways, and show where to stop. The two colors tell you the most: yellow is about opposite directions, white is about the same direction.
Know the rule
Solid white lines mark the edge of the road and separate bicycle lanes from other traffic.
Medians divide two or more roadways. They can be open spaces, cement dividers, or 18-inch solid yellow pavement markings with stripes. It's illegal to drive within, over, or across a median.
Dashed, solid, and double solid yellow center lines
Know the rule
With a solid and a dashed yellow line together, you may not pass when the solid line is on your side. If the dashed line is on your side, you may pass when it's safe.
No passing when the solid yellow line is on your side
Put it into practice
You're on a two-lane highway behind a slow truck. Your side of the center has a dashed yellow line and the other side has a solid one. You may pass if the oncoming lane is clear. If the solid line were on your side, you'd have to stay behind the truck.
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 separate?
Traffic moving in the same direction
Bike lanes from bus lanes
Parking spaces from travel lanes
Traffic going opposite directions
Answer: Traffic going opposite directions
Yellow lines separate traffic traveling in opposite directions.
