Road Markings
Bare Roads
Complete vehicular confusion will be created by bare roads. The markings on the roads are painted to regulate, guide and direct the user on road. The markings include words, colours attached or applied on the surface of road or kerb and lines patters.
Traffic Paints
Traffic paints are used for markings on road. Materials like thermoplastic strips, cat’s eyes and road studs are also used in road markings. Road safety is promoted by these markings and it ensures smooth traffic flow. At times, they are used to supplement road signs messages and other things.
White Lines
White is used generally for carriageway markings other than those indicating some restrictions which are marked by yellow. Yellow or white together with colour black are used for object marking and kerb.
Centre Line
Centre line marking for a two lane road
On two-way undivided roads, the centre line helps in separating the traffic’s opposing streams and facilitates the movements. It can single broken line, a double solid line, a combination of broken and solid line or single continuous barrier line. Double and single solid lines, whether yellow or white, should not be straddled or crossed. On roads having 2 centre lines, of which 1 is broken and the other is solid, only the solid one has significance for the driver. In this situation, the driver should be careful in not crossing or straddling the centre line.
Lane line: Lane line and broken centre line
Centre Barrier Lines
Centre barrier line marking for a four lane road
Centre barrier line marking for a six lane road
Double white/yellow lines
Where there is visibility restricted in both the directions, double continuous lines comes in use. Neither traffic stream is allowed to cross them.
Combination of solid and broken lines
- If the line is broken, people can straddle or cross it. Over-take only if it’s safe.
- If the line is continuous then do not straddle or cross.
A stop line is painted before road intersection/junction’s intersecting edge. It is single transverse line. It indicated the place to stop at when directed by traffic light or traffic officer. The stop line is also marked at pedestrian crossing.
Give Way Line
The give way line is a double dotted transverse line marked at junctions. A reverse triangle give way sign is marked to denote such lines on the surface of road by a road sign or dotted lines installed near the markings. On the main road, give way to the traffic.
Border or Edge Lines
These are the continuous lines marked at the carriageway edge and it marks the main carriageway limits till where the driver can venture safely.
Parking Prohibited Lines
A solid continuous line painted yellow on the edge or kerb of the carriageway having a sign of “No-parking” indicated no-parking area extent.
Yellow Box Junctions or Keep Clear
These are diagonal crossed lines painted yellow within the box. All the vehicles should cross these lines only when there is a clear space ahead of this yellow box. Vehicles should not stop briefly in this area.
Pedestrian Crossings
These are the alternate white and black stripes painted on the road parallel known as zebra crossing generally. Pedestrians should only cross it at that point where the lines are marked and when the road signal comes in their favour at the controlled crossings. People should give way and stop at these crossings for pedestrians. They are marked to give and facilitate right of way to them.