Yellow and white road markings - Vietnamese drivers need to remember

Solid yellow lines are used to separate opposing lanes on roads with speeds above 60 km/h, while white lines are used for roads with speeds below 60 km/h.

Road markings are usually white in the inner city, but when on the highway, yellow lines appear, making many drivers wonder. So what is the main purpose of distinguishing between the two colors?

In addition to the types of road markings that use white to indicate parking locations, directions... the difference mentioned in the article is that the white and yellow lines are both in the middle of the road, with the purpose of dividing lanes.

Two solid yellow lines prohibit vehicles in both directions from encroaching on lanes or making U-turns.

According to clause f, item G.1, appendix G "Traffic signals on roads with speeds over 60 km/h", Regulation 41: 2012/BGTVT "National technical regulations on road signs" stipulates:

Yellow dashed line: when the line runs along the road, it serves to separate two lanes of traffic going in opposite directions. If the line is on the sidewalk or on the roadside, it serves to prohibit parking.

Solid yellow line: when the line runs along the length of the road, it serves to separate the lanes of oncoming traffic and it is not allowed to encroach on the lane (overlap the line). If the line is on the sidewalk or on the roadside, it serves to prohibit vehicles from stopping or parking.

Two parallel solid yellow lines: when the line in the middle of the road serves to separate traffic from the opposite direction. In the case of two parallel solid yellow lines, vehicles are prohibited from crossing the line to overtake or make a U-turn. In the case of one solid line and one broken line, the side with the solid yellow line prohibits overtaking or turning back; the side with the broken yellow line, when safety conditions ensure, allows overtaking and turning back.

Road > 60 km/h and overtaking is allowed. Photo: OS

Similarly, white lines drawn like the yellow lines above will be applied on road sections with a speed limit of less than 60 km/h, as specified in Appendix H of Regulation 41. Most of these road sections are located in cities and densely populated areas, which is why yellow lines rarely appear in urban areas.

Of course, yellow lines are still used for roads under 60 km/h, but for other purposes, not related to lane division. For example, to determine areas where stopping and parking are prohibited, parking areas for public passenger transport vehicles...

So, in general, if there is only a yellow dividing line (solid or broken) on the road, it is understood as the effect of a white dividing line (solid or broken), the only difference is that the yellow line applies to roads with a speed above 60 km/h, and the white line applies to roads below 60 km/h.

On the highway but dividing one-way lanes using white lines.

On the highway, drivers will see yellow lines used to separate two directions, and white lines to separate lanes in the same direction, or to separate motorized and non-motorized lanes. In other words, in the same direction, the lanes are divided by white lines, regardless of whether it is on a road with a speed of over 60 km/h or under 60 km/h.

According to VnExpress