Western Australia · Drive Safe · chapter 5 · 8 min read

Freeway, Intersections & Turning

ƒ Single continuous (unbroken) white lines Single unbroken lines are used either to mark edge lines, lane lines or dividing lines (centre lines) on roads. Where there is a single continuous lines) dividing line (centre line), YOU must not cross that line except to leave or enter the road or turn at an intersection or ‘U’ turn.

YOU must not cross a continuous dividing line to overtake or a continuous lane line to change lanes. Where the line is between lanes travelling in the same direction (lane lines) YOU must not cross the line to change lanes. Where the line is an edge line, you may cross the edge line to stop, enter or leave a road, or pass on the left side of a vehicle turning right.

ƒ Double continuous (unbroken) lines These lines are used as dividing lines (centre lines) on roads. YOU must not cross these lines to overtake but you can cross them to turn right at an intersection, ‘U’ turn or enter or leave a road if it is safe to do so.

YOU must not cross these dividing lines to overtake.

ƒ Continuous line and broken line combinations These combinations of lines are used to mark dividing lines on roads where it may be dangerous to overtake. Where there is a continuous line marked on your side of the road and a broken line marked on the other side, YOU must stay to the left of both lines. If the broken line is on your side (to the left) of a continuous line then YOU may cross the lines to overtake, turn right, ‘U’ turn or enter or leave the road if it is safe to do so. ƒ Merging lanes When two lanes merge into one lane (and this might also be indicated by signs such as ‘LANE ENDS MERGE LEFT‘ or ‘LANE ENDS MERGE RIGHT’ or ‘FORM ONE LANE’, or symbolic warning signs you must give way to another vehicle if any portion of it is ahead of your vehicle. You should indicate that you are merging by using your indicator or hand signal. Remember to keep a safe distance between yourself and the vehicle in front and take turns to merge if there are long lines of merging traffic.

YOU should indicate and check your blind spots when merging.