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SAAQ Class 5 overview

SAAQ Class 5: Pavement markings

Yellow and white lines, broken, solid, double and combined lines, reversible and two-way left-turn lanes, reserved lanes, stop lines, crosswalks, parking markings and pavement symbols.

  • 14 questions
  • Topic drill
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Pavement markings · Question 1Score 0/0

You are behind a slow car on a two-way road divided by two solid yellow lines side by side. May you cross them to pass?

Study reference: SAAQ Driver's Handbook (2nd edition), Ch. 3 Road Signs and Traffic Signals — Pavement markings, pp. 112–120; Ch. 4 Traffic Rules — Traffic lane divisions, pp. 219–220

All 14 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

  1. You are behind a slow car on a two-way road divided by two solid yellow lines side by side. May you cross them to pass?

    1. Yes, if no car is coming
    2. Yes, but only during daylight
    3. Yes, if the car is under the limit
    4. No, these lines may not be crossed to pass

  2. Along a curb you see yellow lines painted on the pavement. What do they mean for parking?

    1. Parking is allowed after 6 p.m.
    2. Parking is for permit holders
    3. Parking is not allowed there
    4. Parking is limited to one hour

  3. On a Québec road, what does a yellow line between two lanes tell you about the traffic in them?

    1. One lane is reserved for buses and taxis
    2. Both lanes go the same direction
    3. Traffic in them goes opposite ways
    4. The road is about to narrow

  4. A rectangle with a yellow zigzag pattern and a broken white line on its left side is painted along the curb. What is it?

    1. A taxi waiting stand
    2. A city bus stop zone
    3. A disabled parking space
    4. A school bus loading area

  5. Walking home, you notice the crosswalk at a corner with a stop sign is white, while one in the middle of the block is yellow. Why the difference?

    1. White marks crossings without a signal
    2. Yellow marks crossings without lights or stop signs
    3. White marks crossings used by cyclists
    4. Yellow marks crossings near schools only

  6. In a city, a lane has parallel broken yellow lines on both sides and its direction changes at different times. What kind of lane is it?

    1. A two-way left-turn lane
    2. A reversible lane
    3. A reserved bus lane
    4. A slow-moving vehicle lane

  7. On a road with a solid centre line, you come up behind a vehicle displaying this sign on its rear. What does the rule allow?

    An orange triangle with a red border
    1. Passing only where a broken line begins
    2. Passing only on the right shoulder
    3. Sounding the horn so it pulls over
    4. Crossing the solid line to pass it, when safe

  8. A reserved lane is marked with double broken lines instead of double solid lines. What does that tell you?

    1. It is reserved only during certain hours
    2. It is reserved at all times
    3. It may be used by any car to pass
    4. It is closed to buses and taxis

  9. An elongated white diamond is painted in the lane ahead of you. What does it mean?

    1. A pedestrian crossing is ahead
    2. A vehicle sensor is located there
    3. The lane is reserved for certain vehicles
    4. The lane ends at the next corner

  10. On the shoulder of a highway you notice yellow equilateral triangles painted at intervals. What do they indicate?

    1. An upcoming yield sign
    2. Traffic may be monitored from aircraft
    3. A no-stopping zone for trucks
    4. The start of a climbing or passing lane

  11. You start passing where a broken yellow line runs beside a solid one, with the broken line on your side. When must the pass be finished?

    1. Before you reach the next intersection
    2. Within 200 metres of starting
    3. Before the solid line ends
    4. Before the broken line ends

  12. A centre lane is bordered on each side by a solid and a broken yellow line, with yellow turn arrows painted in it. How may you use it?

    1. To park briefly for deliveries
    2. As a regular through lane
    3. Only to turn left, from either direction
    4. To pass slower vehicles in either direction

  13. A solid yellow line separates your lane from oncoming traffic. You want to turn left into a private driveway. What is the rule?

    1. You must drive to an intersection first
    2. You may cross the line to make the turn
    3. You may cross only if a sign allows it
    4. You must make a U-turn further on

  14. Diagonal broken white lines are painted inside a reserved lane just before an intersection. What do they allow drivers in the next lane to do?

    1. Enter it only to turn at the next corner
    2. Stop in it to drop off passengers
    3. Use it to pass slower traffic before the light
    4. Enter it whenever traffic is light

Pavement markings: key rules to remember

Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗

Pavement markings (purpose)

  • Markings separate lanes, show lanes for certain vehicles or users and the permitted movements; they supplement signs and signals.
  • They show, among other things: traffic direction, lanes, no-passing zones, road edges, width changes, bus/heavy-vehicle zones, stop lines, pedestrian/school/playground crosswalks, parking, special manoeuvres (arrows), obstructions, reversible lanes, bikeways, reserved lanes, two-way left-turn lanes and runaway lanes.

Colour of markings

  • Only two colours: yellow and white.
  • Yellow: separates lanes going opposite ways; left side of divided roads, highways and one-way roads; left edge of a highway ramp; no-parking areas; crossings for children/pedestrians/students between intersections or at intersections with no light or stop sign; road edges for visibility; reversible lanes; two-way left-turn lanes; lanes for oncoming or alternating traffic.
  • White: separates lanes on a one-way road; highway acceleration/deceleration lanes; right side of divided roads; outer edges of two-way roads; parking areas; crossings at intersections with lights or stop signs; turning guides at intersections; stopping points; lanes reserved for traffic in the same direction.

Broken and solid single lines

  • White when separating lanes of one-way traffic; yellow when separating two-way traffic.
  • A broken line may be crossed in certain circumstances; a solid line may not.

Double, combined and lane lines

  • Two solid yellow lines side by side separate two-way traffic and may not be crossed.
  • Solid yellow beside broken yellow: two-way traffic; may be crossed in certain circumstances if the broken line is on your side.
  • White combined lines can separate one-way lanes; cross only if the broken line is on your side.
  • Lines between same-direction lanes are usually broken white; they may be solid, single, double or combined to limit or ban lane changes (e.g. approaching another road, in a tunnel).

Reversible lane

  • Urban lane whose direction alternates; marked on both sides by parallel broken yellow lines.

Two-way left-turn lane

  • Middle lane for left turns from both directions; on each side, parallel yellow lines (one solid, one broken); yellow lane-selection arrows show that only left turns are allowed from it.

Reserved lane

  • Reserved at all times: double solid lines. Reserved during certain hours: double broken lines.
  • Diagonal broken white lines in the reserved lane: drivers in the next lane may share it only to turn at the next intersection.

Slow-moving vehicle lane

  • Extra lane where a slope's grade or length makes some heavy vehicles slow down a lot.

Stop line, crosswalks, parking

  • White stop line across the road, perpendicular, at intersections with lights or a stop sign; marks where to stop.
  • Crosswalk at intersections with lights or stop signs: two parallel solid white lines or a zebra pattern. Elsewhere crosswalks are yellow.
  • Parking: white lines = parking allowed; yellow lines = parking prohibited.
  • White wheelchair symbol: spaces or ramps for people with physical disabilities; on spaces it comes with a sign reserving them for holders of a disabled parking permit.

Bus stop, sensors, aircraft patrol

  • City bus stop zone: rectangle with a yellow zigzag pattern; left side is a broken white line.
  • Vehicle sensor symbol: painted at the centre of a sensor so you stop at the right spot and the light gets a signal; reduces waiting at intersections.
  • Yellow equilateral triangles on pavement or shoulder: traffic may be watched from aircraft.

Arrows and symbols

  • White arrows show lane direction.
  • Elongated white diamond: lane reserved for certain types of vehicles.
  • Painted bicycle symbol: bikeway.

Traffic lane divisions

  • You may cross a broken line once you are sure it is safe.
  • Broken line next to a solid line: passing allowed if the broken line is on your side when you start; finish passing before the broken line ends.

Crossing solid lines

  • Generally you may not cross a solid single or solid double line.
  • Exceptions: the lane is obstructed or closed; turning left onto another road or into a private driveway; passing farm machinery, farm tractors, animal-drawn vehicles, bicycles, or vehicles bearing the slow-moving vehicle sign (orange triangle with reflective dark red edges).

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