Pavement Markings and Lanes

Key points

1. Yellow dashes mean traffic moves in opposite directions on each side of the line; passing is permitted when it is safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Yellow Dashes: Traffic moves in opposite directions on each side of the line. Passing is permitted when it’s safe.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

2. Single or double solid yellow lines mean do not pass, but you may cross them to turn left.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Single or double solid yellow lines mean DO NOT PASS. You may cross the line to turn left.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

3. A solid yellow line on your left means you are on the proper side of the road.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “if a solid yellow line is on the left, you are on the proper side of the road”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

4. A solid white line separates same direction traffic where passing is hazardous.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Solid White Line: Traffic moves in the same direction on each side of the line, but passing is hazardous, as when you’re approaching an intersection or merge area.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

5. On a 3 lane highway, drivers from either direction may use the center lane, but only to make a left turn; you must not pass in it.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “Three-lane highways have two lanes for traffic flowing in opposite directions. Drivers from either direction may use the center lane for left turns. Enter this center lane only to make a left turn. You must not pass in this lane.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

6. A 4 lane highway is divided in half by two solid yellow lines in the center.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “A four-lane highway is divided in half by two solid yellow lines in the center.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

7. You must drive in the proper lane whether or not it is marked.

   Source: Handbook p. 32

   “You are expected to always drive in the proper lane, whether the lane is marked or not.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 32

8. Before changing lanes, check your mirrors, signal and look over your shoulder toward the lane you are moving into.

   Source: Handbook p. 33

   “Check your rearview mirrors. Signal your intention to change lanes. Look over your shoulder in the direction you will be moving.”
   Oklahoma Driver Manual, Handbook p. 33

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Oklahoma practice test

1. 1. What do single or double solid yellow lines mean on an Oklahoma roadway?

   1. Do not pass, although you may cross to turn left
   2. Passing is permitted in either direction
   3. Only trucks may cross the line
   4. The road is one-way
   Show answer

   Do not pass, although you may cross to turn left. Single or double solid yellow lines separate traffic moving in opposite directions and mean do not pass. The manual permits crossing the line for a left turn, so the rule is not an absolute ban on every crossing. A dashed yellow line, by contrast, can permit passing when safe. The truck-only and one-way choices change the meaning entirely. Read solid yellow as a no-passing boundary, then consider a left-turn movement separately.

2. 2. Before moving left to pass on a two-lane road, how much clear roadway without a no passing zone should you see ahead?

   1. At least 50 feet
   2. At least 100 feet
   3. At least 150 feet
   4. At least 200 feet
   Show answer

   At least 200 feet. Passing on the left starts with looking ahead. The handbook says not to move left until you are sure it is safe, and to check for at least 200 feet of clear roadway with no No Passing Zone. The 100 feet figure belongs to a different rule, the ban on passing within 100 feet of an obstructed view. Distances such as 50 or 150 feet fall short of the handbook's number. Before you pull out, also make sure no one is passing you, check your mirror and blind spot, and signal a left move.

3. 3. What does a center lane bordered by solid yellow lines serve?

   1. Parking during a brief stop at an intersection
   2. Passing in either direction when traffic is light
   3. Left turns only, not passing
   4. Traveling straight when the outside lanes are busy
   Show answer

   Left turns only, not passing. On a three-lane highway, the center lane is shared by traffic from both directions for left turns. Drivers must not use it as a passing lane, because an opposing vehicle may enter for the same turning purpose. Light traffic does not change that restriction, and parking or straight travel would create an unexpected obstruction. The safe cue is the pair of solid yellow lines and the lane's location between opposing flows. Enter it only when preparing for a left turn, then leave it promptly when the turn is complete.

Source: the Oklahoma Driver Manual, Chapters 4 and 6: Pavement Markings and Lane Usage. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.