Article 8

Horizontal Road Markings, Drivers’ Responsibilities, Categories of Violations

1. Road markings, whether in the form of lines, written words, or symbols, are used to regulate traffic or to

to warn or guide road users, either on their own or in combination with traffic signs or traffic signals, to emphasize or clarify their meaning. When used to regulate parking, in conjunction with corresponding signs, they take precedence over parking signs.

Road markings intended for moving vehicles must be easily and promptly recognizable by drivers and must be visible both during the day and at night.

2. The main types of road markings are:

(a) the longitudinal markings,

(b) the widthwise (transverse) markings and

3. The longitudinal markings are:

(a) a line consisting of one (1) or two (2) continuous lines, which indicates the separation of lanes traveling in opposite directions,

(b) one (1) dashed line on the roadway, which defines the boundaries of the lanes for traffic guidance, c) a line consisting of one (1) broken line, twice as wide as the previous one, which defines the boundaries between the acceleration or deceleration lane and the adjacent traffic lane, d) consisting of one (1) broken line on the road surface, with segment lengths and the gaps between them much shorter than the broken line described in subparagraph (b), which serves as a warning of the approach to a double or solid line or to another section of the road that poses a particular hazard.This warning line may be supplemented or replaced by diversion arrows,

e) a line consisting of one (1) solid line and a dashed line alongside it, which indicates the separation of lanes for opposing directions, f) consisting of double dashed lines, which designates a traffic lane or lanes in which the direction of traffic may be reversed.

4. The transverse markings are:

a) the stop line, consisting of one (1) solid line across the width of one (1) or more traffic lanes, which designates the point before which drivers are required to stop: aa) due to the “P-2: Mandatory Stop” sign. The word “STOP” may be marked on the road surface before the above markings, (b) due to a traffic light signal, (c) due to a traffic officer’s signal, or (d) before a railroad crossing; (b) the line consisting of one (1) broken line across the width of one (1) or more traffic lanes, which designates the point before which vehicle drivers must yield the right of way, in accordance with the “P-1: ‘Mandatory Yield’. In front of this broken line, a large triangle may be marked on the road surface to symbolize the “P-1: Mandatory Yield” sign, a large triangle with one (1) side parallel to the dashed line and the vertex opposite that side facing the driver required to yield. This dashed line may be replaced by more than one (1) triangle marked close to one another on the roadway, with one (1) side of each triangle parallel to the dashed line and the vertex opposite that side facing the driver who is required to yield the right of way,

(d) bicycle crossings, consisting of squares or rectangles,

e) the waiting area for bicycles, EPHO, motorcycles, and mopeds, consisting of two (2) continuous parallel lines, spaced four (4) to five (5) meters apart. The waiting area is marked at signalized intersections in front of the stop line for vehicles and is indicated by the symbols for the vehicles listed in the preceding paragraph. For these vehicles, the waiting area is shared. If a bicycle lane is present, it terminates at the waiting area and is painted the same color as the waiting area.

5. The special markings are:

(a) consisting of parallel diagonal stripes, flanked by a (1) solid or dashed line on a section or slightly raised area of the roadway, indicating a prohibition or restriction on vehicle entry into these areas,

(b) the broken yellow line (zigzag) on the side of the roadway, which indicates that parking is prohibited along the entire length of the line on that side, regardless of any parallel road markings with vertical signs prohibiting stopping and parking, and regardless of the prohibitions set forth in Article 38 regarding stopping and parking. An interruption in the broken line accompanied by the word “BUS” or an image of a bus may be used to indicate a stop exclusively for buses or electric buses,

c) a solid yellow line on the curb or at the edge of the roadway, which indicates that stopping and parking of vehicles are prohibited along its entire length and on that side of the roadway, regardless of any parallel road markings with vertical signs prohibiting stopping and parking, and regardless of the parking prohibitions set forth in Article 38,

(d) a broken yellow line on the curb or at the edge of the roadway, which means that along the entire length of the line and on that side of the roadway, parking is prohibited or subject to restrictions, as indicated by other means. If this line is used to indicate a prohibition or restriction on stopping or parking, and provided there is a white line indicating the edge of the roadway, be located outside and parallel to the white line; e) a grid of yellow lines forming a rectangle, at at-grade intersections, which denotes an area into which no vehicle may enter, even if traffic signals permit it, when traffic density is such that, if a vehicle enters, it would likely be forced to remain at the intersection. Paragraph 2 of Article 30, concerning at-grade intersections and the obligation to yield the right of way, remains in effect even if the above road marking is not present, f) a solid or dashed line designating a traffic lane accompanied by traffic signs, written words, or symbols on the road surface, such as “BUS,” “TAXI,” and bicycles, which means that use of the traffic lane is permitted only to the vehicles listed or depicted,

(g) diversion arrows, selection arrows, parallel or diagonal lanes, pictograms, or text may be used to repeat information from directional signs or to provide road users with information which cannot be adequately conveyed by signs. Such markings are used in particular to indicate the boundaries of parking zones or lanes, to mark bus stops, and to designate a preferred traffic lane, in front of intersections. If there is a directional arrow on the roadway, where it is divided into traffic lanes by longitudinal markings, drivers are required to select in a timely manner the lane marked with the arrow indicating the direction they wish to follow and may no longer change course; h) diamond-shaped markings at regular intervals in the middle of a traffic lane, which indicate that this lane has been designated for emergency use, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 48, concerning emergency vehicles and roadwork.

6. The following are not considered longitudinal markings for the purposes of this document:

(a) the longitudinal lines used to mark the edges of the roadway, to make them more easily visible; (b) longitudinal lines connected to such perpendicular lines that are used to demarcate parking spaces on the roadway, and longitudinal lines indicating prohibitions or restrictions on stopping orparking.

7. Road markings are white, except for: a) markings indicating areas where parking is permitted or restricted, which may be blue,

(b) the zigzag lines in areas where parking is prohibited, which are yellow,

(c) the solid or broken line on the curb or the edge of the roadway indicating a no-stopping or no-parking zone, which is yellow,

(d) the grid lines at the intersections referred to in subparagraph (e) of paragraph 5, which are yellow.

The term “white” also includes shades of silver or light gray.

In the event that permanent road markings need to be temporarily removed and replaced with others, such temporary markings must be of a color different from that normally used and made of a material that can be easily removed.

For temporary road markings, materials or objects suitable for this purpose may be used, such as, for example, reflectors, lighted markers, and traffic cones, the specifications for which are set forth in accordance with paragraph 5 of Article 14, concerning the installation of traffic signs and signals.

8. Drivers of road vehicles are prohibited from: a) crossing a single (1) or double (2) solid longitudinal line, as well as driving on the left side of such a line, b) to cross a set of double broken lines running lengthwise, nor to drive on the left side of such a marking, when this marking separates the two (2) directions of traffic, c) where there is one (1) solid line and another broken line alongside it, to cross the solid line when driving on the side of that line, with movement and passing permitted on the side of the broken line. In this case, the solid line does not prevent a driver who has passed in the permitted manner from returning to their normal position on the roadway, d) to drive along longitudinal markings (center lines), subject to paragraph 9(b) of Article 21 regarding passing, traffic in columns, permitted lane changes, and the movement of mopeds and motorcycles in heavy traffic, e) to cross a solid line widthwise in the event of a mandatory stop,

(f) to cross a broken line widthwise in cases where yielding the right of way is mandatory, (g) enter an area of the roadway marked by parallel diagonal stripes and bordered by a solid line. If this area is bordered by a dashed line, drivers may enter it only when they are certain that they can do so safely or to turn onto a road that joins from the opposite direction of traffic, h) park on the side of the road marked with a yellow zigzag line,

(i) to stop, park, or fail to comply with the restrictions indicated by other means, as applicable, on the side of the roadway that has a solid or dashed yellow line on the curb or the edge of the roadway along the entire length of that line, (i) drive within a traffic lane marked by signs, words, or symbols on the roadway, such as those for buses, taxis, and bicycles, unless they are driving vehicles in that category, (k) to follow a direction at intersections other than that indicated by the directional arrows, if they are traveling in a pre-selection lane marked with such arrows,

(l) to enter a section of the roadway marked with a grid of yellow lines forming a rectangle, if traffic is so heavy that, if they enter, they would likely be forced to remain at the intersection, (m) to cross the broken lines along expressways, except when changing lanes, (n) in the event of a mandatory stop, remain in a waiting area as described in subparagraph (e) of paragraph 4, provided they are not driving a vehicle marked on that area.

9. If the edges of the roadway are marked with lights or reflective devices, the lights or reflective devices shall be:

a) either all white or light yellow, b) or white or yellow, to mark the edge of the roadway opposite the direction of traffic, and red or dark yellow, to mark the edge of the roadway on the side facing the direction of traffic.

The marking and design of road markings are carried out in accordance with the road marking specifications of the General Secretariat for Infrastructure of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport.

10. Violations of this provision are classified as Category E1-B, except for those:

(a) subparagraphs (a), (b), (c), (f), and (h) of paragraph 8, which are classified in category E2-B, (b) subparagraph (j) of paragraph 8, which is classified in category E1-A and category S; and (c) paragraph 9, which is classified in category E3-A.