DKTQuick facts
- Road markings are white or yellow, and some create rules you must obey.
- Crossing a continuous white line is only allowed to pass a bicycle rider safely when the road ahead is clear.
- Do not park on the same side as a continuous white dividing line unless there are at least 3 metres of clearance.
Dividing lines (centre of the road)
| Marking | What you may do |
|---|---|
| Broken white line | Keep left. You may cross it to enter or leave the road, and to overtake or U-turn only when safe and the road ahead is clear. |
| Single continuous white line | You may cross it to enter or leave the road. No U-turns and no overtaking of motor vehicles. |
| Double continuous white lines | Keep left. Do not cross to overtake a motor vehicle, to turn, or to enter or leave the road. A brief crossing is allowed only to pass a bicycle rider when the road ahead is clear. |
| Two lines, continuous one closer to you | You may cross it to enter or leave the road but not to overtake or U-turn. |
| Two lines, broken one closer to you | You may cross to overtake, or to enter or leave the road, but only overtake or U-turn when it is safe and the road ahead is clear. |
Lane markings
- Broken lines between lanes going the same way: you may change lanes if you signal and it is safe, and you must give way to a vehicle already in that lane. Always drive completely inside one lane.
- A continuous line between lanes: do not cross it unless avoiding an obstruction, a sign allows it, or you may drive in a special purpose lane.
- Overhead lane signals: use lanes under a speed limit sign or green or white arrow. A red cross means do not drive in that lane past that point. A downward arrow means the lane is closed ahead.
- Arrows show the direction each lane must take. If two are shown you may choose either.
Other markings
- Painted islands before a right-turn lane: you may drive over one to turn right or wait on it (if no double lines outline it on the left), but give way to vehicles in the turning lane. Never drive on a painted island with a continuous line, such as at a freeway on-ramp.
- Bicycle storage area: at red, stop at the first stop line, not in the bicycle area.
- Yellow lines beside tram tracks give trams priority. See sharing the road with trams.
Based on the Victorian Road to Solo Driving handbook and the VicRoads learner and probationary pages. Rules change from time to time, so check vicroads.vic.gov.au for the latest.
Quick answers
Can you cross double white lines in Victoria?
Not to overtake a motor vehicle, to turn, or to enter or leave the road. The only exception is a brief crossing to pass a bicycle rider when the road ahead is clear and it is safe.
Can you U-turn over a single continuous white line?
No. You may cross a single continuous line to enter or leave the road, but you must not U-turn or overtake motor vehicles.