White vs. Yellow central divider line

[ryanr]

It is yellow in the Philippines too:

[ChrisZwolle]

China (Karakoram Highway in Xinjiang

[Norsko]

In Norway lines that divides traffic moving in opposite direction are yellow, while lines that dividies traffic moving in the same direction (f.eks. on motorways) are white. The lines at the edge of the road are allways white.

[Alex Von Königsberg]

Seems like Sout Korea and China both have yellow central line. I updated the map.

[gronier]

In Chile, only roads where there's a lot of snowfall, central line is yellow, in the other roads it's white

[Alex Von Königsberg]

Originally Posted by gronier

In Chile, only roads were there's a lot of snowfall, central line is yellow, in the other roads it's white

I think it might be confusing. IMO, it is better to use either always white or always yellow central line without switching colours.

[TheCat]

I agree. I actually like the yellow central line in North America (and some
other countries). Although rare, ambiguities may arise in some occasions,
especially on roads with multiple lanes into each direction where even the line
separating opposite directions is dashed (I think in Germany there are such roads,
in which case they use a slightly thicker dashed line to indicate the separation).
So I think the yellow divider is a simple and effective way to get rid of all
ambiguities.

However, I also like the yellow line used at the edges of the road, like in Israel
and South Africa. On country roads at night it adds to safety, because the
driver easily knows that the yellow line is a "do not cross under any circumstance"
line. That yellow line actually also aids to some degree in distinguishing opposite
lanes of traffic, because a yellow line to your far left indicates you are travelling
on a 2-lane road where you share the traffic, whereas a white one indicates
you're probably on a motorway since the only edge marked by the yellow
line is on your right.

[Nephasto]

Originally Posted by TheCat

Although rare, ambiguities may arise in some occasions,
especially on roads with multiple lanes into each direction where even the line
separating opposite directions is dashed (I think in Germany there are such roads,
in which case they use a slightly thicker dashed line to indicate the separation).

Roads with multiple lanes into each direction where even the line
separating opposite directions is dashed??
Does that exist? I mean, by portuguese laws that would be forbidden, and I guess that by any reasonable law it would be forbidden too.
If there are multiple lanes into each direction but there's no divider, the line in the middle should allways be solid, not dashed. Because it's allways forbidden to cross that line, because you don't need the other direction lane to takeover, as it hapens with 1 lane per direction roads.

[ADCS]

Originally Posted by Nephasto

Roads with multiple lanes into each direction where even the line
separating opposite directions is dashed??
Does that exist? I mean, by portuguese laws that would be forbidden, and I guess that by any reasonable law it would be forbidden too.
If there are multiple lanes into each direction but there's no divider, the line in the middle should allways be solid, not dashed. Because it's allways forbidden to cross that line, because you don't need the other direction lane to takeover, as it hapens with 1 lane per direction roads.

I have seen several two lane roads where in an area with steep grades, there are extra climbing lanes for trucks. That is a possibility for where there would be two dashed lines signifying same way and opposing way.

[Nephasto]

Originally Posted by ADCS

I have seen several two lane roads where in an area with steep grades, there are extra climbing lanes for trucks. That is a possibility for where there would be two dashed lines signifying same way and opposing way.

I've seen that in many places, but in those cases, the dashed line in between the two directions turns into a solid line when the extra lane appears.
At least here in Portugal.


I have a photo of one taken in Portugal(taken in the direction with 2 lanes):


The line between opposite directions is a mixed solid/dashed line. Solid for those travelling on the direction with 2 lanes, and dashed for those travelling in the direction with just one lane (who need to go to the lane in the opposite direction to overtake).

There's allways a solid or mixed solid/dashed line between directions, so there's no confusion.

[TheCat]

Originally Posted by Nephasto

Roads with multiple lanes into each direction where even the line
separating opposite directions is dashed??

I agree. To tell you the truth, I've seen it in a driving simulator in a virtual
part of Berlin Here are 2 screenshots I made:

[Nephasto]

Well, shot's from a driving simulatar aren't good enough for me.
I need to see real photo's to believe in it!

[Alex Von Königsberg]

Originally Posted by Nephasto

Roads with multiple lanes into each direction where even the line
separating opposite directions is dashed??

I have seen it in France, but in those cases central line was at least twice thicker and it was dashed with shorter intervals.

[Alex Von Königsberg]

Originally Posted by TheCat

To tell you the truth, I've seen it in a driving simulator in a virtual
part of Berlin Here are 2 screenshots I made:

Nowhere in Europe have I seen such wide lanes and empty streets. Nowhere

[x-type]

in Barcelona at Diagonal!!! all are dashed! of course, only reason is changable traffic ragulation (arrows and X'es on portals above)

[ChrisZwolle]

Originally Posted by Alex Von Königsberg

I have seen it in France, but in those cases central line was at least twice thicker and it was dashed with shorter intervals.

It's called a suicide lane.

[Nephasto]

Originally Posted by Alex Von Königsberg

I have seen it in France, but in those cases central line was at least twice thicker and it was dashed with shorter intervals.

But that's in city avenues, or in highways?
I guess in avenues.

[Rebasepoiss]

Lanes with changable traffic direction are always dashed.....It has to be....Otherwise you wouldn't be allowed to cross it.

[Nicolás]

Originally Posted by Nephasto

Well, shot's from a driving simulatar aren't good enough for me.
I need to see real photo's to believe in it!

Yeah, it's really like that sometimes - very confusing in bigger cities I don't really like that. But it's true, the line is a bit thicker a dashed different but not always.

[Bartolo]

In Ontario all a solid line means is its recommended to not cross onto the other side, double solid line mean very strongly recommended to not onto other side of the road. Its only illegal to pass when there is a sign that says, "No passing"