What does the white solid and dashed line at the edge of the carriageway mean?
2 Answers
White dashed line: The white dashed line is used to demarcate the boundary between motorized and non-motorized lanes, allowing vehicles to temporarily cross the line, but they should yield to other normally moving vehicles, non-motorized vehicles, and pedestrians. White solid line: Crossing is prohibited, which can be understood as the white solid line being non-crossable. Below is a related introduction about the functions of carriageway markings: 1. Lane dividing line: The lane dividing line is a traffic marking used to separate traffic flows moving in the same direction. 2. Lane edge line: The lane edge line is a traffic marking used to indicate the edge of the carriageway. 3. Stop line: The stop line is a traffic marking indicating where vehicles should wait for a signal to proceed or stop to yield. The color of the stop line is white.
Having driven for so many years, that white dashed-solid line on the road edge is an old acquaintance of mine. The solid side absolutely cannot be crossed—whether you want to park or exit the road, it's a no-go. The dashed side allows temporary crossing, like pulling onto the shoulder to yield or briefly handle something, but you must quickly return to the main lane. From a safety perspective, this line is ingeniously designed to prevent accidental lane changes that could lead to hitting a wall or another vehicle. I learned the hard way in my younger days when I crossed a solid line on the highway and nearly caused an accident, so now I pay extra attention during night drives, especially in low visibility like rain or fog. This line is common in urban-rural junctions, helping separate vehicle lanes from non-motorized lanes to reduce mixed-traffic risks. Overall, it’s like a silent traffic cop, ensuring smooth and safe driving.
