Yellow Pavement Line Markings on Delaware Roadways

QUESTION: The YELLOW pavement line marking is ALWAYS LEFT and NEVER RIGHT — (true/false)?

Approximately 4 decades ago YELLOW pavement line markings began to appear on our roadway system. Prior to that time all roadway markings were WHITE. The major purpose for the YELLOW pavement line markings is to identify opposite direction traffic. Certainly, by now every course taker should be able to answer with 100% correctness which vehicles in picture #13-2 below are traveling in the correct direction. This is the same question/picture from Chapter #3 in which many of you did not answer correctly at that time.

Picture #13-2

Yes, “The D Team” is 100% certain every course taker knows the correct answer — vehicles #1, #2, & #3 are traveling in the correct direction. Each of those vehicles has the YELLOW pavement line marking on the left side of the roadway they are using. Vehicle #4 should immediately reverse course since the YELLOW pavement line marking is on the passenger side of that vehicle indicating wrong direction travel.

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More on YELLOW pavement line markings: Not only does YELLOW identify the direction of travel, but it also identifies when it is legal to overtake and pass on the left.

SOLID YELLOW pavement line markings are used primarily to identify both the threat of opposite direction traffic and where overtaking/passing on the left is illegal – picture #13- 3 below.

Picture #13-3

Picture #13-4

Picture #13-5

Occasionally, DASHED YELLOW lines will be used to guide the motorist through a left-turn – see picture #13-6 below. These guidelines are shorter than broken YELLOW lines and should not be crossed.

Picture #13-6

Even more YELLOW! Repeat initial question: The YELLOW pavement line marking is ALWAYS LEFT and NEVER RIGHT – (true/false)?

In the examples presented so far the YELLOW line is always left and never right, but there is more to come. It is not yet time for the correct answer.

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TWO-WAY LEFT TURN LANE/SHARED CENTER LANE

Picture #13-7

In picture #13-7 above traffic traveling in both directions are permitted to use this lane for left-turns. Upon entering the two-way left turn lane/shared center lane not only will there be a YELLOW line on the left of the vehicle, but there will also be a YELLOW line on the right of the vehicle.

ANSWER: Yes, the YELLOW line is always left, but it can also be right at the same time when the vehicle is positioned in a two-way left turn lane/shared center lane. So the correct answer to the question is – FALSE.

YELLOW – final use! DOUBLE DASHED YELLOW lines are used to identify a REVERSIBLE lane (direction of traffic can be switched – picture #13-8 below). The Bay Bridge crossing the Chesapeake River is the closest REVERSIBLE lane “The D Team” is aware exists (Delaware does not yet have REVERSIBLE lanes).

Picture #13-8

The direction of travel in a REVERSIBLE lane is determined by an overhead signal. A green arrow indicates it is legal to enter this lane and a red X indicates this lane is for opposite direction traffic only – do not enter.

Delaware Defensive Driving

Delaware Defensive Driving Inc. has been providing State of Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles approved Basic and Refresher (aka “Advanced”) defensive driving courses since 1992. Based in Wilmington, Delaware over 135,000 certificates of completion have been issued to Delaware drivers over the last 32 years.