Pavement markings and lanes

Key points

1. A solid yellow line on your side of the road marks a no passing zone.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “A solid yellow line on your side of the road marks a “no-passing zone.””
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

2. Broken or dashed lines permit you to pass or change lanes if it is safe.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Broken or dashed lines permit you to pass or change lanes, if safe.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

3. Where white stop lines are painted, you must stop behind the stop line.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “White stop lines are painted across the pavement lanes at traffic signs or signals. Where these lines are present, you are required to stop behind the stop line.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

4. Where stop lines are missing, stop before the crosswalk when required to stop.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “At intersections where stop lines are missing, you must stop before the crosswalk when required to stop by traffic signs, traffic signals, or pedestrians in the crosswalk.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

5. Avoid crossing a solid white line if possible.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Crossing a solid white line should be avoided if possible.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

6. Crossing is prohibited where double solid white lines are painted.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “Crossing is prohibited where there is a pavement marking of double solid white lines.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

7. A solid yellow line at the left edge of the road means you may not drive to its left.

   Source: Handbook p. 34

   “The solid yellow line on the left edge of the road is a guide for drivers to indicate driving to the left of the yellow line is prohibited.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 34

8. A center two-way left turn lane is only for turning left, never for passing or through travel.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “The center lane is only used for vehicles turning left, and should never be used for passing or moving through traffic.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 31

9. On a multi-lane highway, do not cross the double yellow line to pass, and keep right if you are driving slower.

   Source: Handbook p. 33

   “Do not cross the double yellow line to pass. Stay in your lane as much as possible. If you are driving slower, keep in the right-hand lane.”
   Texas Driver Handbook, Handbook p. 33

3 questions from the Texas practice test

1. 1. What does a solid yellow line on your side of the road mark?

   1. A no-passing zone
   2. A passing lane that must be used
   3. A pedestrian-only crossing
   4. A lane reserved for parking
   Show answer

   A no-passing zone. A solid yellow line on your side marks a no-passing zone. The marking warns that crossing to overtake is prohibited there, so a driver should remain behind the vehicle ahead until a legal passing opportunity appears. It is not a parking boundary, a mandatory passing lane, or a pedestrian crossing. Broken yellow lines have a different meaning and may permit passing or changing lanes when safe. Check the pavement on your side of the road before beginning any maneuver that would cross the center line.

2. 2. What does a double solid white pavement marking mean?

   1. Traffic may cross freely to pass a slower vehicle
   2. Crossing is prohibited
   3. Only motorcycles may cross the marking
   4. The marking identifies a railroad track
   Show answer

   Crossing is prohibited. The handbook states that crossing is prohibited where a pavement marking consists of double solid white lines. The restriction applies even if the adjacent lane looks open, because the marking controls lane movement at that location. A dashed line is the marking associated with permitted changes when safe, not this double-solid pattern. The lines do not identify a railroad track or create a motorcycle-only exception. The visual cue is two unbroken white lines together: remain in the lane until the marking changes.

3. 3. What is a two-way left-turn lane intended for?

   1. Parking while waiting to turn
   2. Passing slower traffic straight ahead
   3. Driving through the lane for several blocks
   4. Preparing for a left turn from either direction
   Show answer

   Preparing for a left turn from either direction. A center lane marked for two-way left turns is a turning space, not a travel or passing lane. Enter it only where you have enough time to slow or stop safely and prepare for the left turn. Driving straight through it or using it to overtake defeats its purpose and creates conflicts with vehicles turning from the opposite direction. Parking is also unrelated to the lane marking. The useful cue is the yellow-bordered center lane with left-turn arrows: turn preparation only.

Source: the Texas Driver Handbook, Chapter 5: Signals, Signs, and Markers. 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.