Road Marking Spacing, Length and Purpose

There are several road markings used for highspeed roadways including interstates, freeways, expressways and thoroughfares. The following page will document each of the required road markings and what their regulated specifications must be when being applied to highspeed roadway's surface.

Image 1: This is a standard highway marking model used for both onramps and exits entering and exiting an interstate. The road markings are listed below:

1. Yellow - The yellow guide lines are always to the drivers left side and direction of travel. These markings are used to identify that their is not entry, and/or that there is no stopping. These lines also guide drivers with knowing which side of the road they are on in foggy and low visibility conditions. 

2. White Dashed Lines - The white dashed lines separate one lane from the others, and allows drivers to maintain safe travel by guiding the driver down the road. These lines are used to assist drivers in maintaining visual contact with the road in low visibility weather and fog.

Road dividing lines include yellow, white and black and white markings. Below is a complete list of required lengths, widths, and spacing dimensions. 

FOR LOW SPEED ROADWAYS(70MPH and Below)

Under the 2024 Road Safety And Improvement Act, the federal government enacted new marking requirements for all major roadways including slower lanes. The following requirements for markings for roads that have speed limits posted below 70 MPH are as follows:

• Dashed Center Lines: Each Dashed Center Line Regardless Of Line Color, Shall Be A Length Of No Less Or More Than 5 Meters, With Gaps In Spacing Being No Less Than 6 Meters. The lines should be no wider than 1 meter and cannot obstruct any lane of travel. This regulation does not apply to existing roadways, unless any modification, repair or complete overhaul of the existing road structure requires repainting of the lines.

• Edge Marker Lines(White/Yellow): Each edge marker line should not be any width greater than one meter, unless joining together with a filler/filter or on ramp lane, but should not be any thicker than 1 meter for more than 25 meters. These lines are required under Subsection Three of the Jesstopian Department Of Transportation Code Of Uniform Road Construction, to be painted yellow on the left-hand side of the road way, and white on the right-side of the road.