Solid white line

How to read it

White lane lines separate lanes travelling in the same direction, and the MUTCD makes the line solid where crossing it is discouraged. Its guidance puts solid white lines on approaches to intersections between a through lane and a turn lane, between turn lanes, and at toll plazas; they may also separate a through lane from an added lane such as an uphill truck lane. Along the right-hand edge of the road, a solid white line is the Edge line, which Michigan's manual says is often called the fog line.

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Can you cross a solid white line?

The MUTCD's general rule is that a solid line discourages or prohibits crossing, depending on the application. A single solid white lane line discourages it; where crossing is prohibited, the Manual calls for a double solid white line instead. State manuals put it more or less strictly. Florida's handbook says not to cross it unless that is needed to avoid a hazard, and gives discouraging lane changes near intersections as one of its uses. Michigan's manual says not to cross a solid white line and calls crossing one when passing illegal. Oregon's manual says crossing a wide solid white line is permitted but discouraged. Pennsylvania's general rule is that solid lines are not crossed except when making a turn.

This describes the national standard and the named states' manuals. It isn't legal advice: the law of the state where the road is decides.

Look-alikes

A broken white line separates lanes that traffic may move between with care. A wide solid white line, or a double one, is also the MUTCD's channelizing line, which forms the neutral areas at freeway exit and entrance ramps.