Solid white lines define lanes of traffic going in the same direction, or they show you the location of the shoulder of the road. Broken or “dotted” white lines are used to show the center line between lanes. • Yellow lines show you where traffic is going in different directions.

Parking permits And even though neighbours may give you a preference over the parking spot right outside your house, there is actually no legal entitlement for them to do so. It’s a slightly different story if someone is blocking your driveway or their wheel is over the dropped kerb to your house.

Areas of white diagonal stripes or chevrons painted on the road. These are to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right. If the area is bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless it is necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so.

A diamond is used for warning signs. A pennant warns of “no passing zones” A circle is a railroad advance warning. A pentagon signals a school zone or school crossing zone. Horizontal/rectangle signs typically provide guidance to drivers.

When you see white and yellow lines separate travel lanes or mark the center of the road, they tell you if traffic is traveling in one or two directions. Yellow lines separate traffic in opposite directions and white lines separate traffic lanes moving in the same direction.

White diagonal stripes between lanes Diagonal stripes between lanes. Also known as chevrons, these are used to separate traffic lanes or to protect traffic turning right. If the stripes are bordered by a broken white line, you should not enter the area unless necessary and you can see that it is safe to do so.

hazard ahead

Single yellow lines mean you can’t wait there between certain hours. Double yellow lines mean you cannot wait there at all.

Loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines, provided you do not cause an obstruction and there is no loading ban (i.e. pips on the pavements). Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines apply to the carriageway, pavement and verge. Double yellow lines mean no waiting at any time.

It’s OK to stop briefly on double yellow lines to do so, but you must be continuously loading or unloading the whole time you’re parked. You can pull over on double yellow lines to drop off or pick somebody up, as long as there are no stopping restrictions.

Private hire vehicles must never stop or wait in taxi ranks, or the driver will be subject to a Penalty Charge Notice and potentially licensing action.

Double red mean no stopping, waiting or parking is permitted by any vehicles at any time, with accompanying signs confirming the same. They differ from a single red line, which denotes that no vehicle can stop at any time during the hours of the route’s operation, which is again displayed on roadside signage.

The double and single red lines used on Red Routes indicate that stopping to park, load/unload or to board and alight from a vehicle is prohibited. You can stop and unload or load only at designated red route box bays which will be marked on the road. A nearby sign will detail the restrictions.

Vehicles are not allowed to stop at any time on double red lines. They operate every day, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and do not require a time plate (sign).

Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles are allowed to stop on red routes to pick up and drop off passengers as long as your PHV license in on display at the time of doing so. This will show other road users, as well as CCTV cameras, that you’re exempt from the no stopping rule.