What does the yellow dashed line indicate?
2 Answers
On the road, a yellow dashed line indicates that overtaking and U-turns are permitted when there are no oncoming vehicles and safety is ensured. Of course, vehicles on both sides of the dashed line have the same rights. Types of road traffic markings: 1. Lines: Solid or dashed lines marked on the road surface, curbs, or vertical surfaces. 2. Character markings: Text, numbers, and various graphic symbols marked on the road surface. 3. Raised pavement markers: Fixed on the road surface, used on highways or other roads to mark centerlines, lane dividers, edge lines, as well as curves, entrance/exit ramps, guide markings, road narrowing, and road obstacles. 4. Delineators: Indicate the direction of the road and the boundaries of the traffic lanes, continuously and symmetrically placed along the left and right sides of the road in the direction of travel. Based on installation conditions, delineators can be divided into two types: embedded in the road surface and attached.
Every time I teach my students, I emphasize the yellow dashed line. This is a lane divider painted in the middle of the road, with yellow indicating a section that requires attention. It's most commonly seen on two-way, two-lane roads. When you see this line, it means passing by borrowing the opposite lane is allowed. For example, if there's a slow-moving tractor ahead of you, as long as you ensure there are no oncoming vehicles, you can cross the line to overtake. But remember to return to your lane immediately after passing—otherwise, it's extremely dangerous. Short yellow dashed lines can also be found on sharp mountain road curves, allowing temporary lane borrowing, though extra caution is needed for blind spots. This marking is stricter than white dashed lines and usually appears on straight roads or gentle curves with good visibility—it's rarely used on sharp turns. If you change lanes by crossing it and cause a collision, you'll likely be held fully responsible.
