Driver's License Test Prep
Oregon Practice Road Markings

There's a double yellow centerline ahead with a solid yellow line on your side and a broken yellow line on the oncoming side. May you legally pass?

  1. A.
    Yes, because the broken line on the other side authorizes passing for both directions.
  2. B.
    No, because the solid line on your side means you are not allowed to pass. Correct
  3. C.
    Yes, because any double yellow line allows passing as long as you proceed with caution.
  4. D.
    Yes, but only after waiting for oncoming traffic to clear before crossing the yellow lines.
The Why

The answer is "No, because the solid line on your side means you are not allowed to pass."

When the line on your side of the centerline is solid yellow, you may not pass. The broken yellow line on the other side gives passing permission to traffic in that direction, not to you. The rule is always read from your own side of the centerline outward.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

A. Yes, because the broken line on the other side authorizes passing for both directions.

The broken line only authorizes passing for the side of travel it is adjacent to, not both directions. Misreading: Treats the broken line on the oncoming side as granting passing permission to both directions; the manual's rule is read from your own side of the centerline outward.

C. Yes, because any double yellow line allows passing as long as you proceed with caution.

Double-yellow patterns vary; a solid yellow on your side prohibits passing regardless of how cautiously you drive. Misreading: Treats all double-yellow markings as a single rule, ignoring that the manual evaluates each side separately and a solid line on your side prohibits passing.

D. Yes, but only after waiting for oncoming traffic to clear before crossing the yellow lines.

Waiting for oncoming traffic to clear is the manual's rule for turning left across a double solid yellow line, not for passing. A solid yellow line on your side prohibits passing no matter how long you wait. Misreading: Misapplies the manual's double-solid-yellow exception (you may turn left across the lines after waiting for oncoming traffic to clear) to passing, which that exception does not cover.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Road Markings in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Pavement Markings," p.22..

More from this topic

Related Oregon questions

Coming soon

The Oregon book is on the way

Drop your email and we'll send the free Oregon cheat sheet now, plus a note the moment the book is available.

One email a few times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.

Free study plan

Your free Oregon study plan

A short run of study emails for the Oregon DMV test: what to drill, the rules people trip on, and a final pre-test checklist. The one-page cheat sheet is free to grab either way.

One email a few times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.