White Lines, Lanes and Road Types 白線、行車線及各類道路

Traffic Lanes, White Lines and Road Studs 行車線、路面白線及路釘

Normally keep in the left-most lane. The exceptions are overtaking, turning right and passing parked vehicles. Before changing lanes, use your mirrors to check it is safe, then signal, and do not force other drivers to swerve or slow down. In a hold-up or slow-moving traffic, do not jump the queue by cutting into another lane or overtaking waiting vehicles.

Learn to tell three white lines apart. A traffic lane line is a short broken line dividing lanes. A centre line runs along the middle of the road with short markings and long gaps, and you normally drive to its left except when overtaking. A warning line has long markings and short gaps and warns of a hazard ahead: the longer the marking, the greater the hazard. Cross a warning line only if you can see the road ahead is clear, and take particular care.

A hazard warning area is formed by warning lines and hatched marking. It separates traffic streams that could endanger one another or protects traffic turning right, so do not drive over or enter it. If a traffic island in the middle of the road has a 'Keep left' sign, you must pass to its left.

Reflecting road studs help most at night or in poor visibility. White studs mark lane lines and the centre of the road. Red studs mark the left edge of the carriageway. Amber studs mark the right edge next to the central reservation. Green studs mark the carriageway edge at a road junction, lay-by or passing place. Hazard markers also differ by colour: red on the left edge of a road, white on the right edge of a single carriageway, and amber on the right edge of the central reservation of a dual carriageway.

Double White Lines 雙白線

Double white lines are mostly used where your view of the road is limited, to separate traffic travelling in opposite directions. A warning arrow on the road gives you time to get over to the left before the lines begin. Whether you may cross depends on the line nearer to you. If it is solid, you must not cross or drive on the lines. If it is broken, you may cross or drive on them, but only if it is safe. To overtake, you must be able to finish before reaching a solid line on your side. Where the solid lines are widened with hatched markings, you must not drive on the lines or enter the hatched area.

You may cross double white lines in two cases. The first is to avoid an accident, or to follow a direction from a police officer, traffic warden, traffic sign or road marking. The second is to turn right into or out of a road, premises or place next to the carriageway. However, where the lines separate traffic travelling in the same direction and the line nearer to you is solid, you must not cross or drive on them even to turn right.

You should not stop on a stretch with double white lines, even if the broken line is on your side. The only allowance is that, if there is no convenient lay-by, you may stop briefly to load or unload passengers or goods. Keep this in mind when picking up and setting down passengers.

Light Rail Lanes and Bus Lanes 輕鐵專線及巴士線

A light rail lane operates at all times. 'RAIL ONLY' markings and a thick solid white line mark the area, and other vehicles and pedestrians must not enter it. Vehicles must not stop on a box marking, and you must not enter the box unless the exit is clear. A 'Keep right' bollard directs other traffic not to enter the light rail lane.

A bus lane operates only during the period shown on its sign, and a thick solid white line marks its edge. A 'Bus lane ahead' warning sign gives you time to move to an open traffic lane. A sign with a bus symbol means the lane is for franchised buses only. A sign with the word 'Bus' means it is open to all buses, including non-franchised buses.

Outside the period of operation, all vehicles may use a bus lane. Where road markings show the lane is open to turning traffic, you may move across it to turn left at the junction ahead. The 'End of bus lane' sign and road marking show that the lane is open to all traffic again.

A contra-flow bus lane runs on a one-way road in the opposite direction to the normal traffic flow. For a contra-flow bus lane (franchised buses), you must not drive onto the bus lane on the opposite side of the road at any time, and the sign at its beginning bars all motor vehicles except franchised buses.

One-Way Roads, Narrow Roads and Steep Hills 單程路、窄路及斜坡

On a one-way road, traffic may flow only in the direction shown by the 'One-way traffic' sign, and a 'No entry' sign is generally put up at the exit. If a sign is blocked, check whether parked vehicles all face the same way. Lane indication arrows may also guide you.

Choose your lane early, move into it when it is safe and stay in it. Use the left-most lane to turn left and the right-most lane to turn right, and follow road markings if going straight. If the road is not wide enough for a middle lane, you may choose the left or right side when going straight. Traffic may overtake on either side and may join from side roads on either side. A traffic island with a 'Pass either side' sign means you need not change lanes, because the lanes on both sides meet again beyond it.

A narrow road may allow vehicles to move in only one direction at a time. When a vehicle is coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull in if a nearby passing place is on your left, or wait opposite it if it is on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever possible, and do not park in passing places.

The ratio on a steep hill sign shows the gradient: for example, 1:5 (or 20%) is steeper than 1:10 (or 10%). When driving downhill, other than for a short distance, do not rely solely on the footbrake. Select and stay in a low gear, and adjust your speed with light pressure on the footbrake.