Broken yellow line

How to read it

The MUTCD calls it the two-direction passing zone marking: a broken yellow line where crossing the centre line to pass with care is permitted for traffic in either direction. In the Manual's general rule, a broken line indicates a permissive condition. Its guidance is 10-foot line segments with 30-foot gaps, or a similar ratio suited to the road. Pennsylvania's manual points out that a driver passing here uses the lane belonging to oncoming traffic, and California's handbook allows passing where the broken line is next to the driver's lane, only when it is safe.

Also searched as: broken yellow line meaning, dashed yellow line.

Yellow or white

The colour gives the direction. The MUTCD uses yellow lines to separate traffic travelling in opposite directions, and white lines to separate traffic going the same way. So the lane beyond a broken yellow line carries oncoming traffic, and the lane beyond a broken white line does not.

Where it turns solid

On roads with a centre line, the MUTCD calls for no-passing zones on curves and hills wherever the sight distance is shorter than its table allows: from 450 feet at 25 mph to 1,200 feet at 70 mph. There the broken line is joined by a solid one, for one direction (Solid yellow line beside a broken yellow line) or for both (Double solid yellow line).

Two broken yellow lines

A double broken yellow line is a different marking. The MUTCD uses it on each side of a reversible lane, whose direction of travel changes from time to time, and requires signs or lane-use control signals with it.