Stop line RTM1
A solid white line across your lane is a stop line: stop behind it, as at a stop sign. It means stop even when the stop sign itself is missing or has been knocked down.
Source: Sign RTM1 (Stop line)
Road markings and what they mean
Lines, arrows and words painted on the road are road traffic signs too, and some must be obeyed like any sign. Each is drawn here on a square of road seen from above, with you driving up the page in the left lane.
Road markings
Lines, arrows and words painted on the road. They are road signs too.
Yield line RTM2
A broken line across your lane is a yield line. It means the same as a yield sign, even where no sign stands: give way to everyone crossing your path, and stop if you have to.
Source: Sign RTM2 (Yield line)
Pedestrian crossing lines RTM3
Two solid lines right across the road mark a pedestrian crossing. People must cross between them; slow down or stop to let them across. Where a traffic light controls the crossing, obey the light.
Source: Sign RTM3 (Pedestrian crossing lines)
Block pedestrian crossing RTM4
Wide white blocks across the road mark a block pedestrian crossing. Look out for people crossing or waiting to cross, and give them the right of way.
Source: Sign RTM4 (Block pedestrian crossing) · Regulation 315(2)
No overtaking line RM1
A single solid white line between the two directions is a no overtaking line. No part of your vehicle may cross it or be to its right, except to turn into or out of a property across it, or to get past something standing in the road, and only when it is safe.
Source: Sign RM1 (No overtaking line)
No crossing lines RM2
Two solid lines are no crossing lines, stricter than a single no overtaking line: you may not cross them to overtake or to turn. The one exception is to pass something standing still in the road, when it is safe.
Source: Sign RM2 (No crossing lines)
No overtaking line beside a dividing line RM1-WM3
Where a solid and a broken line run side by side, each driver obeys the line on their own side. The solid line is on yours, so you may not cross. Drivers coming the other way, with the broken line on their side, may cross when it is safe.
Source: Sign RM1-WM3 (No overtaking line beside a dividing line)
Dividing line beside a no overtaking line WM3-RM1
Each driver obeys the line on their own side. Yours is broken, so you may overtake when it is safe; the solid line binds the drivers coming towards you. Still, never overtake where you can’t see far enough ahead.
Source: Sign WM3-RM1 (Dividing line beside a no overtaking line)
Channelising line RM3
A solid white line between lanes going the same way is a channelising line. Don’t cross it: pick your lane before the line starts. A broken lane line may be crossed when it is safe.
Source: Sign RM3 (Channelising line)
Left edge line RM4.1
The yellow line on the left marks the edge of the roadway; beyond it is the shoulder. Driving on the shoulder is not allowed, apart from a few set cases, such as letting a faster vehicle pass in daylight on a road with one lane each way.
Source: Sign RM4.1 (Left edge line) · Act s1 ("edge of the roadway") · Regulation 298A(1)
Right edge line RM4.2
A solid white line on the right of a one-way roadway is the right edge line. Beyond it is the median or barrier between the two roadways, and you may not drive on or across it, except at a built intersection.
Source: Sign RM4.2 (Right edge line) · Regulation 297(2)
Painted island RM5
Yellow bars inside white lines mark a painted island. Keep off it: don’t drive over it, stop or park on it, unless a traffic officer tells you to or in an emergency.
Source: Sign RM5 (Painted island)
Parking bays RM6
White lines mark parking bays. Park wholly inside the lines of one bay, so that the next driver can use theirs.
Source: Sign RM6 (Parking bays)
Exclusive parking bay: loading zone RM7-L
A yellow bay with letters in an oval is an exclusive parking bay, only for the road users the letters name. L is a loading zone: only goods vehicles may stop there, to load or unload.
Source: Sign RM7-L (Exclusive parking bay)
Mandatory direction arrows RM8
Yellow arrows at a junction are mandatory direction arrows: from that lane, you may go only the way its arrow points. Get into the right lane early, and watch for drivers who don’t.
Source: Sign RM8 (Mandatory direction arrows)
Bus lane marking RM9
A broken yellow line with BUS in the lane marks a bus lane. Unless you are driving a bus, keep out of it during the times on the bus lane signs.
Source: Sign RM9 (Bus lane marking)
Box junction RM10
Yellow criss-cross lines mark a box junction. Don’t drive into the box unless you can get out of it: a car stuck in the box blocks the traffic crossing your way.
Source: Sign RM10 (Box junction)
Zig-zag zone lines RM11
Zig-zag lines mark the zone before a pedestrian crossing. Don’t stop in it, unless you are giving way to people on the crossing or waiting behind a car that is, and don’t overtake. Watch for people about to cross.
Source: Sign RM11 (Zig-zag zone lines) · Regulation 284 ("zig-zag-zone")
No stopping line RM12
A solid red line along the road is a no stopping line: don’t stop next to it at all, unless there’s an emergency. A yellow line means no parking.
Source: Sign RM12 (No stopping line)
No parking line RM13
A solid yellow line along the kerb is a no parking line. You may stop for as long as it takes to let people or goods on or off; staying longer is parking, which isn’t allowed.
Source: Sign RM13 (No parking line) · Act s1 ("park")
Traffic circle mandatory direction arrows RM15
Yellow arrows around a mini-circle are compulsory: go round it the way they point, which is clockwise, and don’t drive over the painted circle.
Source: Sign RM15 (Traffic circle mandatory direction arrows) · Regulation 284 ("traffic circle")
Railway crossing ahead marking WM1
A white X on the road warns of a railway crossing ahead. It is painted between the warning sign and the crossing: slow down, look and listen, and stop if a train is coming.
Source: Sign WM1 (Railway crossing ahead marking)
Continuity line WM2
Continuity lines warn that the lane beside them will soon leave the through road. Move into it, or out of it, in good time, and give way to anyone changing lanes: further on, the line turns solid or becomes a painted island, and may not be crossed.
Source: Sign WM2 (Continuity line)
Dividing line WM3
A broken line between the two directions is a dividing line: it warns that the traffic on its other side comes towards you. You may cross it, to overtake for example, but only when it is safe.
Source: Sign WM3 (Dividing line)
Reversible lane lines WM4
Double broken lines mark a reversible lane. Signs or overhead signals show which way it is open; keep a lookout for vehicles coming towards you in it.
Source: Sign WM4 (Reversible lane lines)
Yield control ahead marking WM5
The triangle is the yield sign laid on the road, stretched so that you can read it as you drive. Slow down if traffic is coming, and stop if you need to.
Source: Sign WM5 (Yield control ahead marking)
Lane reduction arrows WM6
Lane reduction arrows: a straight arrow in the lane that goes on, and a bent one in the lane that ends, pointing to the lane to move into. Check your mirror and blind spot, and merge in good time.
Source: Sign WM6 (Lane reduction arrows)
Mandatory direction arrows ahead WM7
White arrows before a junction warn of the yellow arrows at the junction, which you must obey. Move into the lane for the way you want to go while you still can.
Source: Sign WM7 (Mandatory direction arrows ahead)
No overtaking line ahead WM8
An arrow on the dividing line, slanting back to the left, warns that a no overtaking line or no crossing lines start ahead. If you are on the right, get back into your lane before they begin.
Source: Sign WM8 (No overtaking line ahead)
Arrestor bed ahead WM9
Red and white blocks warn of an arrestor bed: a bed of deep gravel beside the road, often on a long mountain descent, that stops a runaway vehicle. Drive into it only if your brakes fail.
Source: Sign WM9 (Arrestor bed ahead)
Speed hump marking WM10
Diagonal white lines across the road mark a speed hump. Slow down before it, and ease off the brake as you go over it.
Source: Sign WM10 (Speed hump marking)
Lane lines GM1
Lane lines mark lanes for traffic going the same way. Drive in the middle of your lane, and move into another only when you can do so without getting in anyone’s way or putting them in danger.
Source: Sign GM1 (Lane lines) · Regulation 299(3)
Guide lines GM2
Guide lines in a junction show the path to follow, here for a right turn. Keep between them so that you don’t stray into another lane.
Source: Sign GM2 (Guide lines)
Bifurcation arrows GM3
Bifurcation arrows show that the number of lanes increases ahead. Choose your lane, and don’t drive across the lane lines.
Source: Sign GM3 (Bifurcation arrows)
Information arrows GM4
Information arrows show the direction you may drive in a lane or street. They help in one-way streets and wide junctions; never drive the opposite way to them unless a traffic officer directs you to.
Source: Sign GM4 (Information arrows)
Bicycle crossing lines GM5
Two broken lines across the road with a bicycle symbol mark a bicycle crossing. Look out for cyclists crossing, or about to cross.
Source: Sign GM5 (Bicycle crossing lines)
Disabled persons symbol GM6
Symbols painted on the road show that a lane or bay is kept for one group of road users, or that a road leads somewhere. The wheelchair keeps this bay for disabled persons.
Source: Sign GM6 (Disabled persons symbol)
Word markings GM7
Word markings add information to other signs and markings. Read the message, and look out for the danger it warns of.
Source: Sign GM7 (Word markings)
Practise them
Try the road sign questions and answers, or a free taster of the test.