Pavement markings — Idaho Permit Test

The lines and symbols painted on highways divide lanes, show where it is not safe to pass, where you may not change lanes, which lanes to use for turns, where pedestrians may walk, and where you must stop.

The paint carries as much law as the signs do, and it is there at every moment rather than at one point.

tell you where it is not safe to pass other vehicles, where you may not change lanes

A dashed yellow line means vehicles in either lane can cross the line if it is safe to do so.

Yellow separates opposing traffic, and the dashes say passing is allowed when the road ahead is clear.

A dashed yellow line means that vehicles in either lane can cross the line if it is safe to do so

Two solid yellow lines mean neither lane may cross unless turning, and no passing is allowed. A driver may cross them to turn left into or out of a driveway or business entrance.

The turn is an exception because it crosses the line rather than travels along the wrong side of it.

A driver can cross a double yellow line when turning left into or out of a driveway or entrance to a business

One solid yellow line with one dashed yellow line means only vehicles in the lane with the dashed line may cross to pass.

The dashes are on the side the passing is allowed from, so the line you are next to is the one that tells you.

only vehicles in the lane with the dashed line (lower lane in this drawing) can cross the lines to pass other vehicles

Shared center lanes are reserved for making left turns, or U-turns where those are permitted, from either direction of travel.

Traffic from both directions uses the same lane, so anyone sitting in it for longer than a turn is in somebody's way.

Center lanes are reserved for making left turns (or U-turns when they are permitted) from either direction of travel

You may not travel in a shared turn lane, or interfere with another vehicle preparing to turn from it.

It is a place to wait in, not a lane to drive down, and a car driving along it meets one waiting head on.

You may not travel in the shared turn lanes or interfere with another vehicle preparing to make a turn from the center turn lane

Solid white edge lines along the side of the road show where the edge of the road is, and at night or in bad weather they help you stay on it.

In rain or fog the edge line is often the only thing a driver can still see, and it is what keeps the car on the pavement.

Solid white lines may be located along the side of the road to show where the edge of the road is located

Avoid changing lanes where a solid white line separates lanes of traffic moving in the same direction.

The line is drawn where the traffic paths are about to cross, and a lane change there is a car moving into one.

Avoid changing lanes where a solid white line separates lanes of traffic moving in the same direction

Double solid white lane lines mean lane changes are prohibited where that marking is present.

One solid white line is a strong warning; two of them is a rule, and the difference is worth reading.

Lane changes are prohibited in areas where this type of marking is present

A solid white line with a bicycle insignia along the side of the road marks an area designated for bicycle traffic only, and bicycles must travel in the same direction as adjacent traffic.

A cyclist riding against the flow meets a turning driver who was looking the other way.

Bicycles must travel in the same direction as adjacent traffic

On highways with more than one lane moving in one direction, lanes are separated by broken white lines. Drive within them and never straddle them.

A car sitting on the line is in two lanes, and the drivers on either side both have to plan around it.

Drive within these lines. Never straddle them

A dashed bike lane line means a merging movement is allowed and expected, and a driver turning right may occupy the bike lane in the dashed area.

The dashes are where the car's path and the bike's path have to cross, and doing it early is safer than doing it in the turn.

Dashed lines indicate a merging movement is allowed and expected

Where a bike lane line is dashed and a bicycle is already in that area, a driver turning right must yield.

Whoever is already there keeps the space, which is the only rule that works where two paths cross.

if a bike is already in that area, right turning drivers must yield

Green paint in a bicycle lane emphasizes where two movements cross over each other, and some bike lanes and lane extensions through intersections are painted for extra emphasis.

The paint marks the exact ground where a car crossing the lane and a bike going straight both want to be.

Green paint emphasizes where two movements cross over each other

Solid pavement markings in the center of the road indicate that a U-turn is prohibited.

The paint says it where no sign does, and a U-turn across it crosses two lanes of oncoming traffic.

Solid pavement markings in the center of the road indicate that a U-turn is prohibited

A bicyclist should move left out of the bike lane when going straight, to stop a turning car colliding with the bicycle.

The bike lane is on the right, which is exactly where a right-turning car has to go.

if they are going straight, to prevent a turning car from colliding with the bicycle

What do pavement markings tell a driver?

Where it is not safe to pass and where lane changes are barred. The paint carries as much law as the signs do, and it is there at every moment rather than at one point. July 2026 Idaho Driver's Handbook, p.58: “tell you where it is not safe to pass other vehicles, where you may not change lanes”