Types of Road Markings and Their Applications

Road markings communicate rules and guidance to drivers and pedestrians without needing a sign to be read. Each marking type has a specific purpose:

Centre lines

Run along the centre of a carriageway to separate traffic travelling in opposing or the same direction. A broken centre line generally permits overtaking where safe; a continuous line generally prohibits it.

Lane markings

Divide a multi-lane carriageway into individual lanes for traffic travelling in the same direction, helping vehicles maintain position and change lanes predictably.

Edge lines

Mark the outer boundary of the usable carriageway. They are particularly useful at night and in poor visibility, giving drivers a continuous visual reference for the edge of the road.

Stop lines

Mark the point at which a vehicle must stop at a junction, signal or controlled crossing.

Zebra / pedestrian crossings

Define a marked crossing point for pedestrians across a carriageway, usually paired with warning signage.

Directional arrows & word markings

Painted directly on the road surface to indicate a permitted direction of travel, a turning lane, or facility-specific routing — for example separate marked lanes for trucks, buses, cars and two-wheelers within an industrial facility.

Parking bay marking

Defines individual parking spaces within a lot, layout or facility yard, keeping vehicle parking orderly and predictable. See Parking Area Marking Explained for more detail.

See the Road Marking page for photographs of these marking types as carried out by Deepam Road Marking.