Driver's License Test Prep
South Carolina · Pavement Markings

Every line on the road, decoded.

Yellow vs white, solid vs broken, double lines, arrows, crosswalks, stop bars: what each marking means and what's allowed in South Carolina.

How pavement markings work

Pavement markings follow the federal MUTCD standard, so the same color and pattern mean the same thing in every state. Color tells direction: yellow separates traffic moving in opposite directions; white separates traffic moving the same way. Pattern tells permission: broken lines may be crossed when safe; solid lines may not. Doubling intensifies: a double-solid yellow means no passing in either direction.

Center-line markings

Single solid yellow horizontal stripe running across the middle of dark pavement.
Solid Yellow Center Line
A solid yellow line separates lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions; do not cross...
A single broken yellow dashed line running lengthwise down the center of a dark roadway.
Broken Yellow Center Line
A single broken yellow line separates opposing traffic and permits passing when the way is...
Two parallel solid yellow lines running lengthwise down the center of a dark roadway.
Double Solid Yellow Center Line
Two solid yellow lines separating opposing traffic; passing is prohibited from either dire...
A solid yellow line paired with a broken yellow dashed line running lengthwise down the center of a dark roadway.
Broken-and-Solid Yellow Center Line
Pass only from the broken-line side; the side with the solid line may not pass.
Two parallel rows of short yellow dashes running horizontally across dark pavement, stacked one above the other.
Double Broken Yellow Line (Reversible Lane)
Two broken yellow lines mark a reversible lane whose direction of travel changes at certai...
Tall vertical rectangle outlined in solid yellow and filled with evenly spaced yellow diagonal stripes running from lower left to upper right, set against a dark charcoal pavement background.
Yellow Diagonal Crosshatch (Neutral Median Area)
Yellow diagonal stripes inside a yellow border mark a painted median or neutral area betwe...

Edge-line markings

A single solid yellow line running lengthwise along the upper edge of a dark roadway.
Solid Yellow Left Edge Line
Solid yellow line marks the left edge of the roadway on a divided highway or one-way stree...
A single solid white line running lengthwise along the lower edge of a dark roadway.
Solid White Right Edge Line
Solid white line marks the right edge of the travel lane and the start of the shoulder.
A single extra-wide solid white line running lengthwise along the lower edge of a dark roadway.
Wide Solid White Edge Line
Extra-wide solid white edge line emphasizes the right edge of the travel lane.
Row of short white dashes running horizontally near the bottom of dark pavement, with empty roadway above and below.
Broken White Edge Line
A broken white line along the right edge of the roadway shows where through lanes separate...

Lane-line markings

A single solid white line running lengthwise down a dark roadway.
Solid White Lane Line
Solid white line between same-direction lanes; discourages lane changes through the marked...
A row of small evenly spaced white square dots running lengthwise down a dark roadway.
Dotted White Extension Line
Short white dots extend a lane line through a merge, exit, or intersection area.
Two parallel solid white lines running lengthwise down a dark roadway.
Double Solid White Lane Line
Two solid white lines forbid lane changes; drivers must remain in their current lane.
A single broken white dashed line running lengthwise down a dark roadway.
Broken White Lane Line
Broken white line between same-direction lanes; lane changes are permitted when safe.
On a dark roadway, four horizontal yellow lines run left to right: a solid line above a broken (dashed) line near the top, and a broken line above a solid line near the bottom, framing a center lane between the two broken lines.
Two-Way Left-Turn Lane
Center lane bordered by an outer solid and inner broken yellow line on each side, used by...
A single wide solid white line running straight across the middle of a dark gray pavement background.
White Channelizing Line
A wide solid white line that forms the neutral area at ramp gores and other same-direction...
A tall, narrow white-outlined triangle on dark pavement, point at the top and widening toward the base, filled with evenly spaced parallel white diagonal stripes.
White Diagonal Crosshatch (Painted Gore / Channelizing Area)
White diagonal stripes inside a white border mark a painted gore or channelizing area sepa...
A tall, narrow triangle with a white outline standing point-up on dark gray asphalt. Evenly spaced white diagonal stripes fill the inside of the triangle from its wide base up to the narrow point.
Painted Channelizing Island
A white-outlined, diagonally striped island that channels same-direction traffic at a dive...
Wide horizontal band of solid red pavement bordered by thin white stripes on top and bottom, on a dark roadway.
Red-Colored Bus / Transit-Only Lane
Solid red pavement marks a lane reserved for buses and authorized transit vehicles; privat...
Wide horizontal band of solid green pavement with thin white stripes along its top and bottom edges, on a dark roadway.
Green-Colored Bike Lane
Solid green pavement bordered by white lines marks a bicycle lane, especially through conf...

Crosswalks

Two transverse white lines across a dark roadway with several thick white bars running between them, forming a ladder pattern.
Ladder (Continental) Crosswalk
High-visibility crosswalk with white bars between two transverse lines; yield to pedestria...
Eight wide white vertical bars of equal size and spacing running across dark pavement from top to bottom.
Continental Crosswalk
A series of wide white bars painted parallel to traffic flow marks a high-visibility pedes...
Two parallel solid white lines running across a dark roadway, defining a pedestrian crossing.
Transverse Crosswalk
Two solid white lines across the road define a pedestrian crosswalk; drivers must yield.

Stop bars

A wide solid white bar painted across the full width of a dark roadway lane.
Stop Line
Solid white transverse bar across the lane showing exactly where to stop at a stop sign or...
A row of solid white triangles arranged across the lane with their points facing the viewer, set against dark pavement.
Yield Line (Shark's Teeth)
Row of solid white triangles pointing toward you; slow down and yield to traffic or pedest...

Symbol markings

A white arrow on a dark charcoal background. Its shaft rises straight up from the bottom, then bends at an angle toward the upper right and continues as a straight diagonal line to a solid arrowhead pointing up and to the right.
Lane-Reduction Arrow
White pavement arrow that runs straight then bends off to one side, warning that this lane...
A row of short white T- and L-shaped marks along the edge of a dark roadway, defining parallel parking stalls.
Parking Space T-Marks
White T- and L-shaped marks define on-street parallel parking space boundaries.
Large white X on dark pavement with the letters R and R on either side, with a solid white transverse bar across the lane below it.
Railroad Crossing Pavement Marking
Railroad tracks ahead; slow down, look both ways, and be prepared to stop for trains.
Two fluorescent yellow-green pedestrian figures, a taller adult and a smaller child, painted on dark pavement.
School Crossing Pavement Symbol
Fluorescent yellow-green pedestrian symbols painted on the pavement warn drivers of a scho...
A white pavement marking on dark asphalt showing a combination arrow. A straight vertical shaft rises to a triangular arrowhead pointing up, and from partway up the shaft a curved band extends to the right and ends in a separate arrowhead pointing right.
Straight-or-Right Combination Arrow
Optional-movement lane; drivers may continue straight through the intersection or turn rig...
Large white arrow with a triangular head pointing upward and a thick rectangular shaft, centered on dark pavement.
Straight-Through Arrow
A white arrow pointing straight ahead reserves the lane for through traffic; vehicles in t...
Large white downward-pointing arrow on dark pavement with a vertical shaft and broad triangular arrowhead at the bottom.
Wrong-Way Arrow
A white arrow pointing back toward you means you are traveling against the correct directi...
White arrow on dark pavement with a vertical shaft turning sharply to the left, ending in a wide arrowhead pointing left.
Left-Turn Arrow
Lane is reserved for left turns only; drivers in this lane must turn left at the intersect...
White arrow on dark pavement curving up and over in a 180-degree loop, ending in an arrowhead pointing back down in the opposite direction.
U-Turn Arrow
Lane permits a U-turn; drivers may reverse direction at the intersection.
White arrow on dark pavement with a vertical shaft turning sharply to the right, ending in a wide arrowhead pointing right.
Right-Turn Arrow
Lane is reserved for right turns only; drivers in this lane must turn right at the interse...
White arrow on dark pavement with one shaft pointing straight up and another branching off to the left, both with arrowheads.
Straight-or-Left Combination Arrow
Optional-movement lane; drivers may continue straight through the intersection or turn lef...
White T-shaped double arrow on dark pavement with a single shaft rising into a horizontal bar that ends in arrowheads pointing left and right.
Left-or-Right Turn Arrow
Lane drivers must turn; choose left or right; going straight is not allowed.
White stylized wheelchair figure with a round head shown in profile, painted on a blue square parking space background.
Accessible Parking Symbol
Parking space reserved for vehicles displaying a valid disability placard or plate.
Several solid white triangles pointing right, stacked vertically and painted on a dark roadway.
Speed Hump Marking
White triangles pointing in the direction of travel warn of a speed hump ahead; slow down.
White bicycle silhouette on dark pavement with two stacked chevron arrows pointing forward above it.
Shared-Lane Marking (Sharrow)
Bicyclists and motor vehicles share this lane; expect bikes and pass with care.
A large white diamond outline painted on dark pavement, oriented vertically along the lane.
HOV Lane Diamond Symbol
White diamond painted in the lane reserves it for high-occupancy vehicles during posted ho...
A white outline of a bicycle on a dark background, seen from the side. It shows two round wheels, a triangular frame, a raised seat, and angled handlebars at the front.
Bicycle Lane Symbol
Marks a bicycle lane, a portion of the roadway designated for the preferential use of bicy...

Word markings

White block letters spelling NO on the top line and PARKING on the bottom line, painted on dark asphalt.
"No Parking" Pavement Word Marking
White "NO PARKING" legend painted on the pavement to prohibit stopping or parking in that...
The word STOP in large white block letters painted on dark pavement, oriented to be read by an approaching driver.
STOP Pavement Legend
Word legend painted on the pavement that reinforces an upcoming stop sign or signal; drive...
White block letters on dark pavement, reading PED on the upper line and XING on the lower line, forming a two-line pavement word marking.
PED XING Pavement Legend
Pedestrian crossing ahead; slow down and yield to people in the crosswalk.
The word SCHOOL on an upper line and XING on a lower line, painted as bold white block letters on dark gray pavement. The letters are large and fill the frame, with the outer edges of each word running to the image border.
SCHOOL XING Pavement Legend
School crossing ahead; slow down, watch for children, and yield to pedestrians in the cros...
The word ONLY in bold white uppercase letters on dark gray pavement. The letters fill the height of the frame, and the O at the left edge and the Y at the right edge are slightly cut off by the sides of the image.
ONLY Pavement Legend
This lane is restricted to one movement; paired with an arrow to show which movement.
The word YIELD in white uppercase block letters, centered on a dark gray background.
YIELD Pavement Word Marking
White 'YIELD' painted on the lane warns drivers to slow and give right-of-way ahead, often...
The word SCHOOL painted in large white block capital letters on dark roadway pavement, oriented to be read by an approaching driver.
SCHOOL Pavement Word Marking
White SCHOOL legend painted on the road warns drivers they are approaching a school zone;...
On dark charcoal pavement, a white rectangular outline frames the word KEEP in tall white block capitals on the upper line. Below it, the word CLEAR appears in the same tall white capitals but runs wider than the frame, so its outer letters reach the edges of the image and cross over the box's lower border.
KEEP CLEAR Pavement Legend
Do not stop within this marked area; keep it clear so cross traffic and vehicles entering...
White block letters spelling BIKE painted on dark pavement, stretched tall so the word reads correctly to an approaching driver.
BIKE Pavement Legend
Marks a lane designated for the preferential use of bicyclists; used as an alternative to...
The word BUS in bold white uppercase block letters on a dark charcoal pavement background. The letters are evenly proportioned, and the outer B and S extend to the left and right edges of the image.
BUS Pavement Legend
The word BUS marks a lane or curb zone designated for bus use; posted signs define who may...
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