How wide is a two-way 2-lane road?
2 Answers
Two-way 2-lane roads are typically 15 to 20 meters wide. The centerline of a two-way two-lane road is marked with yellow dashed lines to separate opposing traffic flows. These lines are generally drawn along the centerline of the roadway but are not strictly limited to the geometric center of the road. Under safe conditions, vehicles are allowed to cross these lines or make left turns. All two-way roads with sufficient width to accommodate two motor vehicle lanes should have yellow center dashed lines to guide drivers to stay on the right side of the road, maintain their respective lanes, and drive in the correct direction. Each lane on a two-way two-lane highway is 3 meters wide. The width of the central median barrier varies depending on local conditions and does not have a uniform standard. A simple concrete median barrier is typically 1 meter wide (measured as the distance between the two solid white lines on either side of the median).
As a driver who frequently takes long-distance trips, I've seen plenty of two-lane bidirectional roads. Typically, there's one lane in each direction, with a total width ranging from about 7 to 12 meters, depending on whether there are shoulders or median barriers. On highways, they tend to be narrower, around 7-8 meters wide, while on rural roads they can be up to 12 meters, making it safer to overtake when there's more traffic. I've driven on these roads in mountainous areas—if they're too narrow, it feels like drifting, so you have to keep your speed under 60 km/h to avoid sideswiping oncoming vehicles. Headlights are especially important at night to ensure others can see your position. When the width is just right, driving is much more comfortable, and you can make emergency maneuvers if needed. When choosing a car, it's best to go for something compact, like a small SUV, which handles well and is agile on narrow turns. In short, well-designed road width improves safety and reduces traffic headaches.
