You are driving on a two-way street and see a white pavement marking consisting of a solid yellow line immediately next to a broken yellow line, with the broken line on your side of the center. What does this marking indicate?
- AYou are approaching a no-passing zone and should prepare to merge.
- BPassing is permitted for traffic in your direction, but not for oncoming traffic.
- CPassing is prohibited for traffic in your direction, but permitted for oncoming traffic.
- DPassing is prohibited for traffic in both directions.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Passing is permitted for traffic in your direction, but not for oncoming traffic.
When a pavement marking consists of a solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line, the rule applies to the lane closest to the broken line. If the broken yellow line is on your side, you are permitted to pass if it is safe to do so. Oncoming traffic, however, faces the solid yellow line and is prohibited from passing.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A 'No Passing Zone' sign or a solid yellow line on your side would indicate this.
- C. This would be the case if the solid yellow line were on your side.
- D. This would be indicated by a solid double yellow line.
Solid & Broken Yellow Line (Broken on Your Side)
A pavement marking where a solid yellow line is paired with a broken yellow line, with the broken line closer to your lane, indicating that passing is permitted for traffic in your direction when safe, but prohibited for oncoming traffic.
- Yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
- Broken line on your side means you can pass.
- Solid line on the other side means oncoming traffic cannot pass.
- Passing is only allowed when safe and clear.
Memory trick: Broken on your side, you can glide (pass). Solid on your side, you must abide (not pass).