Pavement Markings
Line colours, solid vs. broken lines, and markings on the road surface.
A solid yellow line means passing is unsafe; a broken yellow line means you may pass if the way is clear; and a pedestrian crossover requires a full stop and yield until pedestrians have completely crossed.
A pavement marking’s colour tells you which direction of traffic it separates, and its pattern, solid or broken, tells you whether crossing it is legal.
Key facts
- A solid yellow line at the left of your lane means it is unsafe to pass; a broken yellow line means you may pass if the way is clear.
- A pedestrian crossover is marked by two white double parallel lines with an X in each lane approaching it, and requires drivers and cyclists to stop before the line and yield until pedestrians have completely crossed.
Read yellow centre lines correctly
Yellow lines separate traffic travelling in opposite directions. A solid yellow line at the left of your lane means it is unsafe to pass; a broken yellow line at the left of your lane means you may pass if the oncoming lane is clear. White lines, by contrast, separate lanes travelling in the same direction.
A wider set of broken lines spaced closer together than a normal lane line is a continuity line, and it means the lane you are in is ending or exiting: you must change lanes if you want to continue straight, not wait until the lane physically disappears.
Know what stop lines and crosswalks require
A stop line is a single white line painted across the road at an intersection, and it shows the exact point where you must stop. A marked crosswalk is shown by two parallel white lines across the road; if there is no separate stop line, you must stop at the crosswalk itself.
A pedestrian crossover is a distinct marking from an ordinary crosswalk: two white double parallel lines with an X painted in each approaching lane. At a pedestrian crossover, drivers and cyclists must stop before the line and yield until pedestrians have completely finished crossing, not just cleared the near lane.
Use lane arrows and markings together with signs
A lane arrow painted on the pavement shows the movement permitted or required from that lane; choose your lane early enough that you are not forced into a late, unsafe move across a solid line to correct a mistake.
Pavement markings and posted signs work together, not separately: a lane arrow, a nearby regulatory sign, and a traffic signal can all apply to the same stretch of road, and you must read all of them, not just the one that is easiest to notice.
Common mistakes
- Attempting to pass across a solid yellow line because no oncoming traffic is currently visible.
- Waiting until a continuity-marked lane physically ends before changing lanes.
- Treating a pedestrian crossover the same as an ordinary crosswalk and not fully stopping before the line.
- Choosing a lane late and crossing a solid line to correct it at the last moment.
Check your understanding
1. What does a broken yellow line at the left of your lane mean, compared with a solid one?
A broken yellow line means you may pass if the way is clear; a solid yellow line means it is unsafe to pass.
2. You approach a pedestrian crossover marked with double white lines and an X in each lane. What must you do?
Stop before the line and yield until pedestrians have completely finished crossing the road.
3. You notice a set of wide, closely spaced broken lines ahead in your lane. What does this continuity line mean?
Your lane is ending or exiting, and you must change lanes if you want to continue in your current direction.
Related Ontario G1 guides
Official references
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