Road Markings

There are several types of Road Markings. Yellow lines relate to vehicle parking and loading and White lines give vehicle drivers directions, warnings and advice.

Yellow Lines

These are provided where there is a need to prevent parking to help improve traffic flow or improve road safety.

Double yellow lines indicate lengths of road where there is no waiting at any time.

Single yellow lines indicate a shorter period of restriction, such as daytime only, and supplementary plates fixed to lighting columns or posts will tell you what the actual restriction is.

Loading restrictions are shown by yellow markings on the kerb and by the times indicated on the supplementary plates.

White lines

These are provided to help road users by giving different types of information on lane use and directions. Road markings are just as important as signs.

Road centre line markings inform and warn road users of approaching situations that will require them to take some form of action (ie. solid white line - do not cross, or lane line - turn right).

Transverse lines also give instruction (ie. stop or give way).

Access Protection Markings These are used to highlight the existence of a driveway or private access onto the public highway. The marking is normally provided where the presence of a driveway is not obvious and can often become obstructed by parked vehicles as a result.

The council can provide access protection markings at a cost of £100.00 For further information on providing access protection markings please call the Customer Service Centre on 01628 683800 or via our online contact form.

Some useful facts:

• It is an offence to obstruct a driveway, even without an access protection marking in place.
• Only the Police can enforce the law of obstruction, and only the Council can provide a marking on the public highway.
• The markings are not enforceable in their own right - They only highlight the presence of a vehicular access onto the highway.
• A vehicle, which overhangs the edge of a marking, is not committing an offence unless it physically prevents access to or from the driveway and only at the time access or egress is required.
• An access protection marking cannot be provided where double yellow lines already exist, because the yellow lines prevent parking.

The Highway Code gives examples of the lines in normal use. All lines on the highway must be authorised by the Borough.

Red Routes

Red routes only apply in London. Current legislation does not permit local authorities outside of London to introduce red routes.

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