Pavement markings — Texas Permit Test

Pavement markings are used to warn and direct drivers and to regulate traffic, just as signs and signals do.

The lines under the wheels carry as much law as the signs overhead. Most drivers read them without noticing.

Pavement markings help you just like signs and signals. They are used to warn and direct drivers and to regulate traffic

On a two-lane rural road with two-way traffic a driver keeps to the right of the yellow center line.

The yellow line separates traffic going opposite ways. Everything else about passing starts from that.

Keep to the right of the yellow center line

A driver may cross a broken yellow line when passing another vehicle or when the right half of the road is closed.

A broken line means the sight distance is good enough to pass. The line does not say whether it is clear right now.

You may cross a broken line when passing another vehicle or when the right half of the road is closed

A driver may not cross the center line if it is not safe or if it is a solid yellow line.

Solid means the road ahead does not give enough sight distance. Being sure it is clear is not something you can do there.

road is closed. Do not cross the line if it is not safe or it is a solid yellow line

A solid yellow line on a driver's side of the road marks a no-passing zone.

The line is on your side because the restriction is yours. The other side may be broken at the same place.

A solid yellow line on your side of the road marks a “no-passing zone

Broken or dashed lines permit a driver to pass or change lanes if it is safe.

The break in the line is permission, not a promise. The judgment about what is coming stays with the driver.

Broken or dashed lines permit you to pass or change lanes

When each lane on a one-way road is marked with a broken white line, a driver may drive in any lane.

Everything is going the same way, so no lane is the wrong one. The broken white is what says so.

When each lane on a one way road is marked with a broken white line, you may drive in any lane

When turning from a one-way road, a driver moves into the lane closest to the turn well in advance.

Cutting across three lanes at the corner is how turning crashes happen. The lane choice is made long before.

road, make sure you move into the lane closest to the turn you are going to make well in advance of your turn

On a multi-lane highway of four or more lanes a driver does not cross the double yellow line to pass and stays in their lane as much as possible.

A double yellow separates opposing traffic on a wide road. Crossing it is a head-on collision waiting for a moment.

Do not cross the double yellow line to pass. Stay in your lane as much as possible

White crosswalk lines are painted across a road to show where people cross on foot.

The paint is for the driver, not the pedestrian. It says people will be stepping out right there.

White crosswalk lines are painted across a road to indicate pedestrian crossing areas

Where stop lines are missing at an intersection, a driver must stop before the crosswalk when required to stop by signs, signals, or pedestrians in it.

No line does not mean no stopping point. The crosswalk is the line when the paint has gone.

At intersections where stop lines are missing, you must stop before the crosswalk when required to stop by traffic signs, traffic signals, or pedestrians in the crosswalk

Where white stop lines are painted across the lanes at signs or signals, a driver is required to stop behind the stop line.

Stopping on the line puts the front of the car where crossing traffic turns. Behind it is the whole instruction.

White stop lines are painted across the pavement lanes at traffic signs or signals. Where these lines are present, you are required to stop behind the stop line

Crossing a solid white line should be avoided if possible.

Solid white separates lanes going the same way where changing is a bad idea. It is a strong discouragement rather than a ban.

Crossing a solid white line should be avoided if possible

Crossing is prohibited where there is a pavement marking of double solid white lines.

One solid white says avoid; two say do not. Texas draws the difference in paint.

Crossing is prohibited where there is a pavement marking of double solid white lines

A solid yellow line on the left edge of the road tells a driver that driving to the left of it is prohibited, and this is found on interstate highways.

It marks the inside edge of a one-way roadway. Anything on the far side of it is going the other way.

to the left of the yellow line is prohibited. This type of yellow line can be found on interstate highways

What job do Texas pavement markings do?

They warn, direct and regulate traffic. The lines under the wheels carry as much law as the signs overhead. Most drivers read them without noticing. Texas Driver Handbook, p.33: “Pavement markings help you just like signs and signals. They are used to warn and direct drivers and to regulate traffic”