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Kokua Line June Watanabe |
Law prohibits lane change
across 2 solid white linesQuestion: Will you please explain to readers once and for all what the double solid line means on the roadway -- and if vehicles are allowed to cross the double solid at any time? This especially refers to drivers Koko Head-bound from Waialae Avenue (leaving the Kahala Mall area) and entering onto the H-1/Kalanianaole Highway merge, near Star of the Sea Church.
Answer: A double solid white line, as used in the area you cite, means no crossing.
State law addresses the restrictions indicated by traffic lane markings. Under Hawaii Revised Statutes, Section 291C-38, a double solid white line "is used to indicate the edges of traffic lanes where travel in the same direction is permitted on both sides of the double line but where movement from lane to lane is considered to be dangerous. The crossing of a double solid white line by vehicular traffic is prohibited."
Honolulu police don't have any statistics on citations in that area, but Maj. Terence Yuen, commander of the East Honolulu district, said police don't consider illegal crossings to be a problem there.
But considering how some drivers don't seem to know or care what lane markings signify, here's a primer on what they all mean, as taken from the state traffic code:
>> White lines separate lanes of traffic flowing in the same direction.In addition to the explanation of a double solid white line given above, this all translates to:
>> Yellow lines separate lanes of traffic flowing in opposing directions or indicate the left boundary of a traffic lane at a particularly hazardous location.
>> Red markings indicate a roadway that shall not be entered or used by the viewer of those markings.
>> Broken lines are permissive in character.
>> Solid lines are restrictive in character.
>> A wider line indicates a greater degree of emphasis.
>> Double lines indicate maximum restriction.>> Broken white line: indicates the edge of the traffic lane where travel is permitted in the same direction on both sides of the line and may be crossed by vehicular traffic when the crossing can be made safely.
>> Broken yellow line: indicates the left edge of a traffic lane where traffic on the other side of the line moves in the opposite direction and may be crossed by vehicular traffic only when overtaking or passing a vehicle proceeding in the same direction or when executing a left turn and then only if the movement can be made with safety and does not interfere with traffic moving in the opposite direction.
>> Solid white line: indicates the edge of the traffic lane where travel in the same direction is permitted on both sides of the line but where movement from lane to lane is considered to be hazardous. A solid white line may be crossed only in unusual circumstances and then only with great care. A double width solid white line is used to emphasize a greater degree of hazard.
A solid white line also indicates the right edge of the pavement.
>> Solid yellow line: indicates the left edge of a traffic lane where overtaking and passing on the left is prohibited. The crossing of a solid yellow line is prohibited except when making a left turn.
A solid yellow line also indicates the left edge of each roadway of a divided street or highway.
>> Double solid yellow line: indicates the separation between lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions. The crossing of a double solid yellow line is prohibited except when making a left turn.
>> Double line consisting of a broken yellow line and a solid yellow line: indicates a separation between lanes of traffic moving in opposite directions, with traffic adjacent to the broken line permitted to overtake or pass if the movement can be made with safety and does not interfere with traffic moving in the opposite direction. The crossing of this double line by traffic adjacent to the solid line is prohibited except when making a left turn.
>> Double broken yellow line: indicates the edge of a reversible traffic lane where the direction of the vehicular traffic may be changed from time to time.
>> Dotted line: indicates the extension of a line through an intersection or interchange. The crossing of a dotted line by traffic is subject to the same prohibitions and exceptions that apply to the line it extends.
>> Solid white line when supplemented by official signs or pavement markings: indicates the separation of bicycle lanes from lanes of vehicular traffic flowing in the same direction.
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