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No-passing lines

No-passing lines are yellow centre-lines that are used to prohibit overtaking to the right of the centre-line.

They are used routinely where forward visibility is limited but this is not immediately obvious for example, over crest vertical curves. They may also be used in other situations such as some horizontal curves if the road controlling authority considers that there is a risk to safety. Other uses are at passing lanes and on approaches to intersections; refer to TCD manual Part 4 for guidance on the application of no-passing lines for intersections.

Legislation

TCD rule (clause 7.3) specifies that:

A road controlling authority may mark a no-passing line on a section of roadway if the road controlling authority considers that there is a risk to safety from vehicles that, when passing other vehicles (other than stationary vehicles or cycles) that are moving in the same direction, intrude into a lane that is being used by traffic travelling in the opposite direction.

A no-passing line applies to traffic that normally travels to the left of the line and must consist of a continuous yellow line not less than 100 mm wide that is marked:

(a) approximately 100 mm to the left of either:

(i)another continuous yellow line; or

(ii) a broken or continuous single white line in the form described in [Section 2.4.1]; or

(iii) a dashed yellow line in the form described in 7.3(3)*; or

(iv)a regular pattern of raised white or yellow pavement markers [refer to Section 2.8]; or

(b) not less than 0.5 m and not more than 1.5 m to the left of another line that together with the no-passing line forms wide centre-lines as described in [Section 2.4.2]

*If practicable, a no-passing line must be preceded by a line not less than 100mm wide and consisting of a series of yellow dashes, each of which is not longer than 15m, to inform drivers of the existence of the no-passing line ahead (refer to no-passing advance-warning lines).

No-passing advance-warning lines

Application

For the use of no-passing lines, reference should be made to Table 2-10 and the visibility criteria described in Table 2‑16.

Table 2‑16

ATP on no-passing lines

Typical layouts for standard markings

Table 2-10: Conditions for use of no-passing lines

Should be used where one or more of the following conditions apply: May be used where one or more of the following conditions apply:
  • on the approaches to raised traffic islands and medians that separate opposing traffic flows; (note that where tapered flush median markings are present, then no-passing lines are not necessary);
  • on the approaches to hazards or obstructions located within a roadway and which separate opposing traffic flows;
  • on the approaches to railway level crossings; and as centre-lines on undivided four lane rural roads; and
  • where it is considered necessary to prohibit overtaking because drivers may not be aware of visibility restrictions caused by vertical and / or horizontal curves.
  • as remedial measures on lengths of roads with proven overtaking crash histories; and
  • as centre-lines on multi-lane undivided urban roads.

Road marking details

No-passing lines for both urban and rural areas should be marked as indicated in Table 2‑11:

Table 2-11: No-passing markings (urban and rural)

Application Standard
Colour Reflectorised yellow
Width of mark 100mm (minimum) - Can be increased to 150mm
Offset 100mm (nominal) distance between a white centre-line, a line of raised road markers (RRPMs) or another no-passing line; refer note 1.
Alternative offset A wide centre-line with no-passing lines can be marked with a width of between 0.5m and not more than 1.5m between lines.
Stripe Continuous; refer note 2
Length A minimum of 80m (rural)
A minimum of 30m (urban)

Table 2-11 notes:

  1. This offset may be increased to 130mm to allow for the installation of RRPMs, refer to Specification P22: 2006 section 10(h).
    Specification P22: reflectorised pavement marking
  2. At intersections, gaps should be left in no-passing lines to indicate the positions where vehicles should turn into the side road(s). Refer to TCD manual Part 4 for information on road marking at intersections (Part 4 is in the process of being completed and will be available soon).

RRPMs at no–passing lines

No-passing lines on roads should be supplemented with Category G yellow RRPMs (refer to marker classification). The pattern of Category G RRPMs should not be interrupted except where no-passing markings are stopped at intersections; a Category G RRPM should be placed on the end of each no-passing line at intersections.

Marker classification

Table 2‑12, and Table 2‑14 describe the arrangement of Category G retroreflective raised pavement markers accompanying no-passing lines in urban and rural areas as illustrated in Figure 2‑8, Figure 2‑9 and Figure 2‑10.

Table 2‑14

Figure 2‑8

Figure 2‑9

Figure 2‑10

Table 2-12: Retroreflective raised pavement markers in multi-lane roads with no-passing lines

 

No-passing applies to traffic in one direction only

 

One-way yellow

Two-way yellow and white

One-way white

Marker Body Colour

Y
Yellow

Y
Yellow

W
White

Marker Category

G
Day/Night retroreflective

G
Day/Night retroreflective

G
Day/Night retroreflective

Retroreflective Class

Specify A, B or C

Specify A, B or C

Specify A, B or C

Marker Type

1
One-way one-colour

3
Two-way two-colour

1
One-way one-colour

Retroreflective Colour

Y
Yellow

Y – Yellow and W – White

W
White

Marker ID Code

G-B1-Y

G-B3-YW

G-B1-W

Spacing

20m

20m

20m

Location

Midway between every second centre-line dash

Midway between every second centre-line dash that does not have the yellow

Midway between every second lane line dash
Table 2-12 note:
1. Although all tables quote Class B retroreflective performance, this does not suggest that Class B will be correct for different sites. Specification must state Class A, B or C – refer to raised pavement markers section.
Raised pavement markers
Figure 2-8: Multi-lane roads. No-passing applies to traffic in one direction only
View larger image [JPG, 1008 KB]

Table 2-13: Multi-lane undivided highways with double yellow lines

 

 No-passing in both directions – lane markings using raised pavement markers

 

 Two-way yellow Daytime-only white One-way white
Marker Body Colour Y
Yellow		 W
White		 W
White
Marker Category G
Day/Night retroreflective		 D
Daytime non-retroreflective		 G
Day/Night retroreflective
Retroreflective Class Specify Class A, B or C - Specify Class A, B or C
Marker Type 2
Two-way one-colour		 - 1
One-way one-colour
Retroreflective Colour Y
Yellow		  - W
White
Marker ID Code G-B2-Y D-W G-B1-W
Spacing 10m Sets of three with 1 m spacing at 10m intervals Spacing at 1 m to form lane line at 10m intervals
Location Centrally between the yellow lines Replacing the painted lane line dashes Replacing the painted lane line dashes
Figure 2-9: Multi-lane undivided highways with double yellow lines

 

View larger image [JPG, 1.2 MB]

 

Table 2-14: Two-lane roads with no-passing lines 

Parameter No-passing in one direction
  One-way yellow Two-way yellow and white
Marker Body Colour Y
Yellow		 Y
Yellow
Marker Category G
Day/Night retroreflective		 G
Day/Night retroreflective
Retroreflective Class Specify Class A, B or C Specify Class A, B or C
Marker Type 1
One-way one-colour		 3
Two-way two-colour
Retroreflective Colour Y
Yellow		 Y – Yellow and W – White
Marker ID Code G-B1-Y G-B3-YW
Spacing 20m 20m
Location Midway between every second painted centre-line dash Midway between every alternate painted centre-line dash

Figure 2-10: Two-lane roads with no-passing lines

View larger image [JPG, 877 KB]

Length and location of no-passing lines

The length and location requirements for no-passing lines are highlighted in Table 2‑15. A typical layout is provided in Figure 2‑11.

Figure 2‑11

Table 2‑15: Length and location requirements for no-passing lines

Two-lane rural roads Two-lane urban roads
The minimum length of any no-passing line on a rural road should be 80m.
In all cases, no-passing lines should be extended to ensure adequate visibility is available at their departure ends, irrespective of the alignment fault(s).
Where the length of restricted visibility is:
  • less than 80m, no-passing lines should not be marked;
  • greater than 60m, no-passing lines should commence 80m prior to the point where visibility is lost; no-passing lines should continue 80 m beyond the point where visibility is regained;
  • greater than or equal to 80m and less than or equal to 160m, no-passing lines should commence 80m prior to the point where visibility is lost; no-passing lines should continue 80m beyond the point where visibility is regained; and
  • where successive no-passing lines are located less than 150m apart they should be joined to form an unbroken length of no-passing line.

The minimum length of any no-passing line on an urban road should be 30m.
No-passing lines on urban roads should normally start and end at points determined by the use of the visibility criteria described below in Table 2‑16.

Table 2‑16

Visibility criteria

Table 2‑16 describes the visibility criteria for the use of no-passing lines. The Waka Kotahi KiwiRAP Analysis Tool (KAT) provides information on available sight distance for state highways which can be used to assist in determining places to investigate further no-passing lines.

Table 2‑16: Visibility criteria for no-passing markings

Rural roads Urban roads
Should be May be May be
Marked where:
  •  the visibility on the centre-line of the road, within the road reserve from an eye height of 1.10m to an object height of 1.25m, is less than 330m; and
  • the length of restricted visibility exceeds 80m; and
  • the restricted visibility is due to vertical curvature alone.
 Marked where:
  • the RCA, NZTA and the NZ Police all agree that overtaking on a section of rural road should be prohibited because:
(a) visibility is restricted by an unusual combination of vertical and horizontal curves; or
(b) there is a documented history of cross centre-line crashes; or
(c) there is a hidden traffic hazard(s).		 Marked where:
  • the visibility on the centre-line of the road, from an eye height of 1.10m to an object height of 1.25m, is less than 165m; and
  • the length of restricted visibility exceeds 30m; and
  • the restricted visibility is due to vertical curvature alone.
Other factors which also need to be considered when determining the need for marking no-passing lines on two-lane urban roads are:
  • the documented over-taking crash history; and
  • any hidden traffic hazards; and
  • the needs and likelihood of the presence of vulnerable road users.
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