The line tells you where to act
At the stop line, stop with the front of your vehicle behind it when the controlling sign or signal requires a stop. At the yield line, give way before entering the conflict area, even if there is no separate yield sign. Do not stop with the vehicle projecting into pedestrians or cross traffic.
The illustrated crossing patterns mark pedestrian crossings. Approach so that you can yield to pedestrians entitled to cross and keep the crossing clear. A queue on the far side is a reason to wait before the crossing rather than stop across it.
Zigzag lines warn of the crossing approach and prohibit stopping except to yield to pedestrians or because traffic ahead has stopped; they also prohibit overtaking in the marked area. A stationary car there may be screening a pedestrian you cannot see.
Do not treat all solid lines as interchangeable
No-overtaking lines prohibit crossing for overtaking. The manual permits carefully crossing for direct access to premises or a side road, or to pass a stationary obstruction, only when safe. A solid line beside a broken line must be read from your side; do not adopt the permission available to opposing traffic.
No-crossing lines are stricter: do not cross merely to turn into an access. The stated stationary-vehicle or obstruction exception requires a safe manoeuvre and does not make an ordinary moving queue an overtaking opportunity.
Channelising lines separate traffic travelling in the same direction where changing lanes would be unsafe. Do not cross them to reach an exit. Painted islands exclude driving, stopping and parking except the specified emergency, collision-avoidance or authorised-officer situation.
- Before using any genuine obstruction exception, establish that the way is clear, yield to affected traffic and return without endangering anyone. An exception is not permission to force oncoming vehicles aside.
The shoulder is not an extra traffic lane
The left-edge line marks the left boundary of the roadway; the right-edge line marks the right boundary, commonly on a one-way carriageway. Do not drive over the right-edge line. The left shoulder is not a normal passing lane or a way to overtake a queue.
A shoulder is not an extra traffic lane. The manual allows the driver of a light motor vehicle to move onto the left shoulder to let another vehicle pass only under all the specified conditions. This permission does not authorise a following driver to overtake on the shoulder. It must be between sunrise and sunset. The road must have one traffic lane in each direction. Your vehicle must be being overtaken by another vehicle. You must be able to do so without endangering yourself, other traffic, pedestrians or property. People and vehicles on the road must be clearly visible at a distance of at least 150 m. Check the shoulder itself for pedestrians, cyclists, stopped vehicles, debris and a dropping edge. If any condition fails, stay in the roadway and allow the other driver to wait. Courtesy must remain lawful and safe.
For a breakdown or emergency stop, get as far clear of moving traffic as safely possible and take the appropriate warning precautions. The fact that a shoulder exists does not authorise recreational parking or routine travel on it.
A marked space can be reserved or restricted
Park inside the marked bay, without projecting across its boundaries or onto the pavement. At angled bays, position the front appropriately close to the kerb as the manual specifies; do not use a bay whose size does not accommodate the vehicle safely.
Reserved-bay letters identify the permitted user or purpose. A letter is part of the reservation, not an optional label. The bus-lane marking reserves the lane for its indicated period; accompanying signs can define the time and vehicle-class conditions. This yellow road marking prohibits motorcycles from proceeding beyond it. It may accompany a no-motorcycles sign or be used by itself. It does not mark a bicycle lane.
Distinguish the no-stopping line from the no-parking line. Read any broken section and time plate with the marking. A brief stop to load or unload under a no-parking rule must still be lawful and safe; leaving the engine running does not make parking lawful.
- A - ambulance; B - bus; L - loading zone; T - taxi; F - fire-fighting vehicle; R - rickshaw.
- CD - diplomatic vehicle; MB - minibus; D - defence force; P - South African Police Service.
- SOS - emergency telephone access; use the space for the emergency purpose rather than ordinary parking.
- A loading zone is for the permitted loading activity and vehicle class, not for waiting while someone shops.
Choose the correct lane before the instruction
Mandatory direction arrows require the indicated movement from that lane. Select your lane in advance; a late mistake is not permission to cut across a solid line or turn contrary to the arrow. Roundabout arrows prescribe circulation around the island, with the applicable yield control determining who goes first.
The painted box marks a box junction. Do not enter unless your intended exit is clear enough to leave the box. A green signal does not remove this requirement. Leave the cross route open if traffic ahead is stationary.
At an ordinary circle yield to traffic from the right. At a mini-circle yield to a vehicle that will cross its yield line before you. The similar circular path does not make the two priority rules identical.