United Kingdom Road surface marking

a box junction in london, pictured atop monument in 1969

in england, idea of painting center white line first experimented in 1921 in sutton coldfield, birmingham. following complaints residents on reckless driving , several collisions, sutton coldfield corporation decided paint line on maney corner in area of maney.

in 1971, correspondent sutton coldfield news wrote article in newspaper recalling event.

the line put down experiment there lot of accidents there, in days of motor car. experiment proved successful whole country adopted standard road safety device, , later foreign countries paint lines on roads, well.

during world war ii pedestrians association lobbied government make safer pedestrians walk during black out. result, white lines painted on sides of road , pedestrians allowed use small torch.

in uk, first white line road markings appeared on number of dangerous bends on london-folkestone road @ ashford, kent, in 1914, , during 1920s rise of painted lines on uk roads grew dramatically. in 1926 official guidelines issued ministry of transport defined , how white lines on roads should used. broken white line in direction of travel, gaps longer painted lines, indicates centre of road , there no hazards specific design , layout of road, i.e. no turnings, sharp bends ahead etc. broken white line in gaps shorter painted lines indicates upcoming hazard, proportion of white black indicates degree of hazard i.e. more white means more hazard.

the minstry of transport experimented double-line road markings first time on sections of a20 , a3 during easter in 1957. markings cautionary, , had no legal status @ time, motorists advised ignoring them weigh heavily against involved in accident in vicinity. further, in order, if safe so, cross lines when broken 1 on side. not in order cross when solid line on side or park there. despite instruction parking, observed 9 bus stops located inside prohibited parking areas.

a double solid white line indicates line may not crossed, overtaking permitted if can performed safely without crossing line. solid lines can crossed in specific conditions (entering premises, overtaking stationary vehicle, overtaking vehicle, pedal cycle or horse travelling @ less 10 mph, or when directed police officer). solid white line broken white line parallel indicates crossing line allowed traffic in 1 direction (the side closest broken line) , not other.

solid white lines used mark outer edges of road.

a double yellow line (commonly known double yellow ) next kerb means no parking allowed @ time, whilst single yellow line used in conjunction signs denote parking restricted @ times. double , single red lines mean stopping not allowed @ time or between times respectively.

on many roads in uk, retro-reflective road studs, including known cat s eyes when referring halifax type road stud, placed in road. these devices reflect light car s headlights towards driver in order highlight features of road in poor visibility or @ night. colour of road studs differs according location. defining division between lanes white, red road studs placed along hard shoulder of motorways, dual carriageways , other roads mark left-hand edge of running lane; , orange road studs placed along edge of central reservation. green road studs denote slip roads @ grade-separated junctions , road-side lay-bys.

comprehensive information highway markings in uk can found in highway code , on gov.uk website.