Solid lines, broken lines, painted islands, yellow edge lines and special-purpose lanes affect whether you may change lanes, overtake, turn, enter another lane or stop at the kerb.
Learning tip: Do not judge a marking by colour alone. First decide whether it is a lane line, dividing line, edge line or special-lane boundary, then check nearby signs, arrows and operating times.
Quick reference
- Broken dividing line: may be crossed when safe and lawful.
- Single continuous dividing line: do not cross to overtake or make a U-turn; limited exceptions apply.
- Double continuous dividing lines: generally must not be crossed.
- Continuous lane line: generally do not straddle or cross it.
- Painted island: generally do not drive on it.
- Continuous yellow edge line: No Stopping.
- Stop or Give Way line: Stop means a complete stop; Give Way means slow and stop if required.
1. Lane lines and dividing lines
Lane line
A lane line usually separates traffic moving in the same direction. Keep your vehicle fully within your lane and avoid straddling two lanes.
A continuous white lane line on a multi-lane road generally must not be crossed, except in limited situations such as safely avoiding an obstruction or giving a cyclist the required passing distance. Bus lanes, bicycle lanes and parking-lane boundaries have their own rules.
Dividing line
A dividing line sits near the centre of the road and separates traffic travelling in opposite directions. It may be broken, continuous, a broken-and-solid combination or double continuous.
Check the line nearest your side, then confirm sight distance, oncoming traffic and nearby signs before crossing.
2. Broken, single solid and double solid centre lines
Broken line
A broken centre line may be crossed when it is safe and legal to overtake, enter or leave the road, or make a U-turn where permitted. Check mirrors, blind spots, oncoming traffic and available road length before moving.
Single continuous dividing line
You must keep to the left of a single continuous dividing line and must not cross it to overtake or make a U-turn. Current South Australian guidance allows limited crossing when safe, including entering or leaving a road, entering a turn lane that begins beside a painted island, entering a lawful angle-parking bay on the opposite side, or allowing the required clearance when passing a cyclist.
Double continuous dividing lines
Drivers on both sides must remain to the left of double continuous lines. They generally must not be crossed, apart from limited situations such as safely avoiding a genuine obstruction or providing the required passing distance for a cyclist.
A slow-moving vehicle, queued traffic or a missed turn is not a genuine obstruction.
3. Painted islands
Painted islands use diagonal lines or solid boundaries to separate traffic, guide turning movements or create a buffer between opposing flows. As a general rule, do not drive on them.
Where the island is bounded by a single continuous line, you may cross the boundary for no more than 50 metres when safe to pass a cyclist, enter or leave the road, enter a turn lane beginning beside the island, or enter a lawful angle-parking bay opposite.
4. Yellow edge lines and clearways
A continuous yellow edge line means No Stopping. Except where traffic conditions, an emergency or a lawful direction requires it, you must not stop, wait, pick up passengers or load goods on the marked section.
Clearways are controlled mainly by roadside signs showing the operating times. During those times, stopping and passenger pick-up are generally prohibited.
5. Bus lanes, bicycle lanes and Bus Only lanes
Bus lane
A bus lane operates during the times shown on its sign, or all day if no times are displayed. Buses, emergency vehicles, bicycles and taxis may use it under the road rules.
Other vehicles may enter only for limited purposes such as entering or leaving the road, passing on the left of a vehicle turning right or making a U-turn, or avoiding an obstruction. The permitted distance is generally no more than 100 metres.
Bicycle lane
A bicycle lane is identified by signs and lane markings, sometimes with green surfacing at conflict points. Other vehicles must not normally drive or stop in it while it is operating.
You may enter for limited purposes such as entering or leaving the road, passing on the left of a vehicle turning right or making a U-turn, or avoiding an obstruction. Signal and give way to cyclists first. The permitted distance is generally no more than 50 metres.
A continuous boundary beside a special-purpose lane does not always mean “never cross”. Follow that lane’s specific rules, distance limits and giving-way requirements.
6. Stop and Give Way lines
At a Give Way line, slow down and prepare to stop. You may continue only when doing so will not conflict with road users who have priority.
At a Stop line, bring the vehicle to a complete stop before the line. If the view is blocked, move forward slowly only after the first stop, while continuing to give way.
7. Edge lines and rumble strips
A continuous white edge line marks the boundary between the main traffic lane and the shoulder, parking area or emergency stopping lane. Some rural roads use raised or grooved edge treatments that create sound and vibration when crossed.
- Do not treat the shoulder as an extra traffic lane.
- Crossing an edge line may be permitted when turning at an intersection, entering or leaving the road, entering an emergency stopping lane, passing on the left of a right-turning vehicle, driving an unusually wide or long vehicle, or safely stopping at the roadside.
- For entering or leaving the road, or passing on the left of a right-turning vehicle, the distance is generally limited to 100 metres.
Five-step check before crossing a marking
- Identify its purpose: same-direction lanes, opposing traffic, a special lane or the shoulder?
- Check the line type: broken, single solid, double solid, yellow or painted area?
- Read the signs: times, arrows, Bus Only, Clearway or parking controls may change the rule.
- Confirm the exception: are you entering a road, avoiding a genuine obstruction, turning or passing a cyclist safely?
- Complete the safety checks: mirrors, signal, blind spot, oncoming traffic, pedestrians and cyclists.
Continue learning
Updated in July 2026 using the South Australian Driver’s Handbook sections on driving on the road, lanes, giving way and parking. The seven original teaching topics and example images have been retained, while obsolete 2019 fine amounts have been removed.