Broken yellow lines on small residential streets

[mcmc]

In Southern California, it is quite common to see a broken yellow line separating directions of travel on two-lane residential streets. The intention is clearly not to allow passing (these are small residential streets); a double yellow line is what's called for.

Here's but one example from Culver City, near Los Angeles:
https://goo.gl/maps/3eFN7

Why is this done? Is there something in the California MUTCD that allows this? How did this become a standard? Is this done in any other states?

[Revive 755]

^ It's done on many urban streets where passing a moving vehicle would be problematic.  I am guessing it is done to allow one to pass a vehicle in the process of parallel parking?

It may also be more done since the 2009 MUTCD banned using a single yellow centerline.  IMHO, the single yellow centerline should have been allowed for urban and other low speed roads where 'rural' passing needs to be prohibited, but there's a need to allow vehicles to temporarily use the opposing lane when it's unoccupied to pass a stopped vehicle or vehicle in the process of parking.

[Roadrunner75]

Is this done in any other states?

I've seen this in a few places - East Orange, NJ for example:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.766409,-74.199419,3a,75y,294.13h,82.23t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLwmlCFtoOi_gVo-tQozcIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Probably just to save a few bucks on paint...

[Brian556]

quote from mcmc:

In Southern California, it is quite common to see a broken yellow line separating directions of travel on two-lane residential streets. The intention is clearly not to allow passing (these are small residential streets); a double yellow line is what's called for.

Here's but one example from Culver City, near Los Angeles:
https://goo.gl/maps/3eFN7

Why is this done? Is there something in the California MUTCD that allows this? How did this become a standard? Is this done in any other states?

In your example, the center line exists more for the purpose of marking lanes than regulating passing. The street in the example is wide enough, and looks like it gets enough traffic to warrant striping.

Because there are no hills or curves to limit sight distance, they probably saw no need for a double line, if they were even thinking about passing restrictions at all. You do make a good point that most municipalities would use a double line here to prohibit passing since there are frequent cross streets.

[slorydn1]

I remember Salem Dr in Schaumburg IL being the same way when I was growing up there in the 80's. Apparently it is still the same way: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.024369,-88.099943,3a,89.9y,17.74h,65.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPTvwR9v2gfVcoxqwfsV5sg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

Speed limit is 25, and I don't ever remember people actually passing moving vehicles along it, but there were times when one would need to go around a stopped car or other obstruction in the roadway.

[mrsman]

A street with that many driveways, like Culver City's Duquense, posted by mcmc, you certainly would not pass a guy going 20 by driving on the left and going around him.  The street is far too busy.  But you would certainly be permitted to pass a really slow vehicle (5 mph) or a stopped garbage truck, or somebody parking, or a bicycle, or slowing to make a turn, etc.

Which begs the question, under what circumstances can one pass with a double yellow line.  I know that it means do not pass, but on city streets I would not pass another moving car, but I feel no qualms with going over the double yellow to pass a bicycle or someone trying to parallel park.  Often times in those circumstances, I don't need to go all the way over, just drive with half my car to the left of a double yellow for about a car length.  Of course, I only go when it is clear.  But is this move legal?

EDITED ON AUG 2 TO ADD:

In L.A., the practice of the single yellow line is to indicate that you drive to the right of the yellow line.  Most residential streets have no line painted at all, and drivers are susceptible to driving right down the middle and only moving right as another car approaches.  This is true even when streets are wide enough to have two cars drive simultaneously.  The streets that do, like Duquense, typically are signalized at every intersection with an arterial and carry more traffic than the average residential street.

It's a shame that the narrower residentail streets in LA aren't typically one-way as they are in NY, Chicago, DC, and many other cities.  It's ridiculous that you have to slow down to a crawl every time a car approaches in the opposite direction.

[jeffandnicole]

...Which begs the question, under what circumstances can one pass with a double yellow line.  I know that it means do not pass, but on city streets I would not pass another moving car, but I feel no qualms with going over the double yellow to pass a bicycle or someone trying to parallel park.  Often times in those circumstances, I don't need to go all the way over, just drive with half my car to the left of a double yellow for about a car length.  Of course, I only go when it is clear.  But is this move legal?

Someone trying to parallel park, no.  You're supposed to wait behind them.  Of course, they are also supposed to signal their intention of parallel parking.  If they don't and you pull up behind them, you generally have no choice.

For a bicyclist, they are supposed to stay to the right.  But some states are now placing laws saying that if you go around them, you have to leave 3 or 4 feet between you and the bicyclist, which all but requires you to cross over the double line.

If zombies are slowly wandering your lane, you can cross a solid line.

If someone is pulled over on a narrow shoulder, then you can cross the line to get around them.

Of course, in all cases, if you hit someone, you're going to be given the ticket for improper passing.

[cl94]

The standard centerline marker in Buffalo is a broken yellow outside of the few city-maintained multilane higways. I heavily doubt they intend for people to pass moving vehicles.

[briantroutman]

Someone trying to parallel park, no.  You're supposed to wait behind them. 

Is this actually the case? This specific scenario was not covered in the PA drivers' manual when I got my license, but I've generally assumed that it was acceptable to cross the line:

- To pass a vehicle stopped dead in its tracks for no apparent reason
- To pass a bicycle, farm equipment, or moving objects unable to maintain at least 50% of the speed limit.
- To pass a vehicle in the process of parallel parking
- To pass a vehicle waiting to make a turn
- To circumvent an obstacle in the road

Of course in any of these cases, I'd use extreme caution and only do so when the opposing lane was clear.

[Revive 755]

I remember Salem Dr in Schaumburg IL being the same way when I was growing up there in the 80's. Apparently it is still the same way: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.024369,-88.099943,3a,89.9y,17.74h,65.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPTvwR9v2gfVcoxqwfsV5sg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

It was until earlier this year when reconstruction started, when finished it will have a double yellow centerline; see Sheets 46-47 of of this 43.3 MB pdf

[KEK Inc.]

Seattle uses them on many arterials including blind corners.  It's only really used where the speed limit is under 30, so I suppose the designers assume drivers will use best judgment due to low speeds.

[slorydn1]

I remember Salem Dr in Schaumburg IL being the same way when I was growing up there in the 80's. Apparently it is still the same way: https://www.google.com/maps/@42.024369,-88.099943,3a,89.9y,17.74h,65.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sPTvwR9v2gfVcoxqwfsV5sg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

It was until earlier this year when reconstruction started, when finished it will have a double yellow centerline; see Sheets 46-47 of of this 43.3 MB pdf

Interesting. The part I was talking about was between Schaumburg Rd and Wise Rd Rd but I am going to assume if they redid this part the'd be redoing that part also, being that its older and all of that.


Thanks for the link!

[mcmc]

So what's the consensus?

1) The broken line is intended to permit passing in some circumstances; or
2) The the broken line means to communicate the same message as a double yellow line.

[slorydn1]

I believe it would be choice #1.

[ekt8750]

What if someone is double parked? It's something that is a pandemic in Philly. There's plenty of two streets that are single laned each way and permit parking on both sides and that leads to a lot double parking esp on the more residential numbered streets. Are you permitted to pass or wait for the person to move their car?

[ET21]

The street I live on, along with many other busier side streets in Oak Lawn, have broken yellow.

[Mergingtraffic]

So if I get pulled over for passing someone b/c they're going 20mph in a 25mph on those streets, can I use that as a defense?  Broken yellow line generally speaking means passing.

[jakeroot]

Seattle uses them on many arterials including blind corners.  It's only really used where the speed limit is under 30, so I suppose the designers assume drivers will use best judgment due to low speeds.

That's what I've always thought. My assumption is that they're installed only to delineate between two directions of travel, period. I don't think SDOT really gives a shit what you do beyond staying in your own lane when there's an oncoming car.

[roadman65]

I remember back in 1988 when I drove CA 2 along the Angeles Crest Highway east of the LA Metro area, most of the winding road had a yellow broken line which allows passing according to law.

However in this case, it is like what Jake just pointed out.  In some instances they post it for travel lane separation more than denoting passing verses no passing.  If you even do drive CA 2 outside of LA and where it leaves the freeway network, there is hardly anyplace that has a good sight distance to warrant safe passing.

[jeffandnicole]

Someone trying to parallel park, no.  You're supposed to wait behind them. 

Is this actually the case? This specific scenario was not covered in the PA drivers' manual when I got my license, but I've generally assumed that it was acceptable to cross the line:

- To pass a vehicle stopped dead in its tracks for no apparent reason
- To pass a bicycle, farm equipment, or moving objects unable to maintain at least 50% of the speed limit.
- To pass a vehicle in the process of parallel parking
- To pass a vehicle waiting to make a turn
- To circumvent an obstacle in the road

Of course in any of these cases, I'd use extreme caution and only do so when the opposing lane was clear.

But you did cover that a double line meant no passing, correct?  3 and 4 are absolutely passing situations. I'm not sure if #2 is actually written as a law. #1 is acceptable but you better be sure he's not stopped for a legit reason.  #5 is acceptable. 

So if I get pulled over for passing someone b/c they're going 20mph in a 25mph on those streets, can I use that as a defense?  Broken yellow line generally speaking means passing.

As long as you obey every other law, why not? Although passing a. 20 mph car in a 25 mph zone without going over 25 is going to take some distance to complete the pass.

[jakeroot]

In a downtown core, I don't see the point in painting double yellow lines on streets with two lanes. The likelihood of something (trash truck, bus, loading car, etc) getting in your way is so high that not being able to pass them is unreasonable, plus the speeds are slow enough that there really isn't much danger in doing so, since you should have plenty of time to react to any car pulling out into your path. Non-overtaking zones should be limited to rural roads, IMO.

As for cars that aren't stopped, you should be able to proceed past slow cars, since most of them contain folks who are lost (a problem in my area when downtown). Passing someone going 10 to 15 at 25 or 30 is something that can be completed relatively quickly. Someone going 1-5 mph under the speed limit can usually be *awakened* by a flash of the headlights or a tap of the horn.

[roadman65]

I have seen many areas where no lines are painted in urban areas even on busy arterials.  They know usually that people stop to park, pick up passengers,  pass the garbage truck etc. so it allows to go around them.  In Newark, NJ some roads would have only the center line painted near intersections for no passing, but about 500 feet away from the intersection it would end.

Also to take into consideration how paint wears off that it saves the trouble of constant restriping, near intersections where a center line exists no parking is placed on both sides so traffic does not need to cross the line to put it in danger of rubbing off. 

[Brandon]

They're used on a lot of Chicago streets, and yes, people do use them for passing.  Sometimes very dangerously.

[US71]

The street I'm on, doesn't have them. The street that leads to my street DOES.

[Zeffy]

I have seen many areas where no lines are painted in urban areas even on busy arterials.  They know usually that people stop to park, pick up passengers,  pass the garbage truck etc. so it allows to go around them.  In Newark, NJ some roads would have only the center line painted near intersections for no passing, but about 500 feet away from the intersection it would end.

Trenton is a prime example of no markings on an arterial:
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.222884,-74.764395,3a,90y,357.05h,88.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sDDY6KtFgmOECwOEHDoG7hg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Back to the topic on hand, I think that broken yellow on a residential street is a bit dangerous, especially if there is a curve or hill or other obstruction where you may not see another car until it's too late. Plus, you are generally supposed to speed up to pass someone, which on a residential street, can be problematic and dangerous due to pedestrians walking around town.