Prime
Do you know what the lines on the road mean?
Lines on the road
What you need to know:
- When demarcating road lines, traffic on one side is able to see what is happening on the other side of the road yet those on the opposite side of the road cannot see. This happens as a result of topography or landscape of the area.
Nerbert Ainomugisha, a motorist, prefers driving at night when travelling upcountry. However, he says, this comes with challenges such as not being able to see clearly.
Ainomugisha says he mostly uses white lines on the edge and those in the middle of the road to stay within the road and keep to his lane. This is because his headlights cannot light at a long distance. He is, however, not able to differentiate between what yellow and white lines communicate.
Yellow still line
Charles Ssebambulidde, the spokesperson of the traffic directorate explains that one still yellow line in the middle of the road not only separates the oncoming and outgoing traffic but it also separates the road evenly. It also means that you are not allowed to overtake.
Dotted yellow line
besides a still yellow line
“If it is a still yellow line with a dotted yellow line on the oncoming traffic side, it means the motorist on the outgoing traffic should not overtake. It is only those on the oncoming side who can overtake. If the yellow dotted line is on the side of the outgoing traffic, it means they can overtake but those on the oncoming traffic cannot overtake,” Ssebambulidde explains.
When demarcating road lines, traffic on one side is able to see what is happening on the other side of the road yet those on the opposite side of the road cannot see. This happens as a result of topography or landscape of the area.
It means motorists driving on the side that has the yellow dotted line can overtake because they can view when the road is clear but those driving on the side of the still line cannot overtake because they are unable to see what is ahead of them.
Single yellow dotted line
If it is a single dotted line in the middle of the road, it means that any motorist on either side of the road can overtake as long as you have observed that the road is clear ahead of you before overtaking.
Double yellow still lines
If there are two double still lines in the middle of the road, it means that overtaking is not allowed whatsoever. This could be as a result of road bends or slopes where you are not able to see the road well.
Ssebambulidde also notes that if you come across double dotted yellow lines separating oncoming and outgoing traffic, it means that overtaking by motorists on either side of the road is allowed. However, the driver must ensure that the road ahead is clear.
White line on the edge of the road
If roads were not marked with lines, it would be hard, if not impossible for motorists to identify road edges. One of the lines that keep you on the road is the still white line. It guides you to stay on the road by keeping in its edge. If it is a dotted line at the edge of either side of the road, it either means there is a feeder road that branches off from the main road or a safe parking space.
Lines on climbing lanes
Along climbing lanes, there is always a provision of two lanes for vehicles on the oncoming side and one lane for those on the outgoing side. In this case, priority is always given to vehicles that are going up the hill to overtake. “If there is a climbing lane and there is a dotted yellow line on the side of outgoing traffic and a still yellow line on the side of oncoming traffic, it means motorists on the outgoing side can overtake but those on the oncoming side cannot overtake even if there is space,” Ssebambulidde says.
“If you are slow on a climbing lane, you are supposed to be on the extreme left lane and leave the middle lane empty to give way for motorists intending to overtake. If you drive in the middle of the two lanes or remain in the middle which is meant for overtaking, it is considered reckless driving and is punishable once caught,” he adds.
Along climbing lanes, faster vehicles on climbing lanes are allowed to overtake because there is a white dotted line that permits them. Overtaking on the left climbing lane is, however, not allowed.
The white line on the side of the road shows you the end of the lane in which you are supposed to drive. Once you go beyond the white line, the texture and terrain change to rough.
Penalty
Once caught abusing lanes, you will be charged for reckless driving and issued with a traffic penalty receipt.
