Broken lines and warning lines

What is a broken line on the road?

A broken line is a white line with gaps in it. You see it between lanes or in the middle of the road. You may cross this line.

When may you cross a broken line? When it is safe and no sign forbids it. For example to:

• overtake;
• change lanes;
• turn.

A sign can still forbid overtaking, such as the no-overtaking sign (sign F1). The sign then comes first.

The painted parts are shorter than the gaps: 1 part line, 3 parts gap. Outside built-up areas this is usually 3 metres of line and 9 metres of gap. Inside built-up areas 1 metre of line and 3 metres of gap.

A yellow broken line along the kerb is something else. It means: no parking here. You can read about it on the yellow line page.

Cycle lane with a broken line

Is a cycle lane marked with a broken line? Then you may drive on it with your car, as long as you do not get in the way of cyclists. With a solid line you may not. Stopping or parking on a cycle lane is never allowed. Whether you may get in lane on the cycle lane before turning is explained on getting in lane.

Warning line on the road surface

A broken line is a warning line when the lines are long and the gaps are short. It is exactly the other way round from a normal broken line: 3 parts line, 1 part gap.

• Outside built-up areas: 9 metres of line and 3 metres of gap.
• Inside built-up areas: 3 metres of line and 1 metre of gap.

From a distance a warning line almost looks like a solid line. You see it just before a solid line, a bend or a junction. Crossing there is riskier.

May you cross a warning line? Yes, it is still a broken line. But something changes further ahead. So do not start an overtake that you cannot finish in time.

Double lines on the road

May you overtake at a double broken line?

Yes. At a double broken line you may cross from both sides, for example to overtake. Only do this when you can see far enough ahead and no oncoming traffic is coming.

Solid and broken line side by side

✅ Broken on your side: you may cross it, for example to overtake, when it is safe.

❌ Solid on your side: you may not cross it. So overtaking is not allowed here.

Is there a broken line next to a solid line? Then the line on your side counts. You may only cross from the broken side. Where you see this combination is explained on the solid line page.

Double broken line with a colour

Sometimes there is a colour between two broken centre lines. The colour tells you something about the speed. It does not change anything about overtaking:

• Green: usually a road where you may drive 100 km/h. Read more on the green line page.
• Purple: a road in the province of Utrecht where the signs show 60 km/h. Read more on the purple line page.

The signs along the road set the speed, not the colour. You may simply overtake across the broken white lines here. Do it carefully: overtaking takes time and space, and oncoming traffic is also driving fast.

CBR exam pitfalls for the broken line

❌ Wrong: Warning line? ✅ Right: You may still overtake. Something just changes further ahead.

❌ Wrong: Sign F1? ✅ Right: The sign comes before the broken line.

❌ Wrong: Two lines? ✅ Right: The line on your side counts.

❌ Wrong: Roadworks? ✅ Right: Yellow comes before white.

❌ Wrong: Green or purple? ✅ Right: That says nothing about overtaking. The white lines decide.