Pavement markings
The main purpose of pavement markings is to delineate traffic lanes and to indicate which movements can and cannot be performed. They are also used to supplement the information conveyed by traffic signs and traffic control signals.
Depending on the situation, the pavement markings are usually white or yellow. They can also be red, green, blue or orange in certain specific cases.
Types of markings
Here are the most common types of markings.
Single broken lane marking line
These broken lines can be crossed.
Single broken white lane marking line
Single broken yellow lane marking line
Single and double solid lane markers
These three types of solid lines may not be crossed, with a few exceptions presented below.
Single white lane marking line
Single yellow lane marking line
Solid double line
If it is safe to do so, you may cross solid lines to:
enter a public highway;
leave an obstructed or closed lane;
make a left turn onto a private road or private property;
make a right turn onto a shoulder, private road or private property;
return to the right-hand lane after passing another vehicle;
enter a lane reserved for left turns in both directions;
cross a traffic lane reserved exclusively for certain vehicles;
pass an agricultural machine, a road vehicle equipped with a slow-moving traffic sign, an animal-drawn vehicle, a cyclist or a pedestrian;
move away from pedestrians when crossing them.
Double line, one solid and the other broken
These lines can be crossed when the broken line is on the driver’s side.
Solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line.
Alternating traffic lane delimitation line
These lines are accompanied by lane-use control signals that indicate the direction of traffic in each lane. They are generally used on bridge or road sections, or in multi-lane tunnels.
Double broken yellow lines.
Crosswalk delimitations
When traffic is controlled by traffic lights or a stop sign, two parallel white lines or white blocks indicate the space reserved for pedestrians. Elsewhere, crosswalks are marked by yellow blocks. In this case, a sign is installed to indicate the location of the crosswalk.
Crosswalk delimited by two parallel white lines
Crosswalk delimited by white blocks
Crosswalk delimited by yellow blocks
Marking colours
Markings are usually white or yellow, but can also be red, green or blue in certain specific cases.
Yellow markings
Yellow markings are mainly used to:
separate traffic lanes in opposite directions;
delimit pedestrian crosswalks where there are no traffic lights or stop signs;
delimit alternating traffic lanes, two-way left-turn lanes and reserved lanes in opposite directions;
delimit the left side of a public highway with separate roadways;
delimit the left shoulder of freeway ramps;
delimit areas where parking is prohibited;
increase the visibility of edges.
White markings
White markings are mainly used to:
separate the lanes of a one-way roadway;
indicate where pedestrians should cross when there are stop signs or traffic lights;
guide turning manoeuvres at intersections;
specify where vehicles must stop;
delimit reserved lanes that run in the same direction as traffic;
delimit the right-hand side of a public road with separate roadways;
delimit the opposite lanes of a two-way roadway;
delimit areas where parking is permitted.
Red markings
Red markings are used to:
indicate access to an emergency lane with a runaway lane (a gravel-filled pit used to stop a vehicle through friction);
delimit a lane reserved exclusively for buses.
Green markings
Green markings are used to:
indicate a bike box. This is a space reserved for cyclists between the vehicle stop line and a crosswalk at a traffic-light junction;
increase the visibility of parking spaces reserved for electric vehicles.
Blue markings
Blue markings are used to increase the visibility of parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
Arrows and symbols
The arrows and symbols below are just some of the many examples available.
On the roadway, the arrows, which are generally white, indicate the direction of the lanes or an exit.
Example of an arrow
Example of an arrow
Example of an arrow
The white voided lozenge is a symbol indicating a lane reserved for certain categories of vehicles.
White voided lozenge
Last update: October 10, 2023
