If there are two yellow lines dividing lanes of traffic, and the line closest to your lane is broken

When driving on any road that does not have marked lanes you must keep your vehicle as near as practicable to the far left side of the road, except:

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Continuous centre lines
Single continuous line
Single continuous centre line left of a broken line
Double continuous centre lines
Video of continuous centre lines
Continuous lane lines
Continuous edge lines
Painted traffic islands
Stop and give way lines
Wide centre lines

when about to make or making a right turn
when overtaking another vehicle.

On a road marked with two or more lanes for traffic travelling in the same direction, if the speed limit is greater than 80 km/h or on any road that has a 'Keep Left Unless Overtaking' sign, you must not drive in the right lane except:

when overtaking another vehicle
when turning or about to turn to the right and you are giving a right change of direction signal
when avoiding an obstruction
when the other lanes are congested.

You must keep to the left of these lines (Examples 1 and 2). You may cross them to overtake, or enter or leave the road, or to perform a U-turn where permitted, but you must only do so if it is safe.

Dividing Lines

A dividing line is a road marking formed by a white line or two parallel white lines (broken or continuous) designed to separate the parts of a road to be used by vehicles travelling in opposite directions.

Broken line (or broken line to the left of a continuous line)
You must keep to the left of these lines (Examples 1 and 2). You may cross them to overtake, or enter or leave the road, or to perform a U-turn where permitted, but you must only do so if it is safe.

Single continuous line (or single continuous line to the left of a broken line)
You must also keep to the left of these lines (Examples 4 and 5). You must not cross these lines to overtake or make a U-turn but you may cross them to:

enter or leave the road
enter a turning lane that begins immediately after the island
park in angle parking on the opposite side of the road.
to leave enough room to safely overtake a bicycle rider (examples 4A and 5A).

but only if you have a clear view of approaching traffic and can do so safely.

Two continuous parallel lines (Example 6)
You must keep to the left and must not cross these lines, unless you have to avoid an obstruction or, if safe to do so, to allow enough room to safely overtake a bicycle rider (example 6A).

Avoiding an obstruction

You are permitted to cross single or double continuous lines in order to avoid an obstruction - this does not include a slower moving vehicle or a vehicle stopped in a line of traffic, but may include a fallen tree, a crashed vehicle, or a car that has broken down or is illegally parked. Before crossing the line, you must have a clear view of the road ahead and it must be safe. You must also be very sure you cross safely because the onus is on you to assess the danger when doing so.

The only other circumstances in which NSW motorists can cross unbroken lines is to maintain the safe passing distance when overtaking a bicycle rider or to avoid an obstruction on the road. When passing a cyclist in a 60km/h or less speed zone, drivers must leave a one metre gap between their vehicle and the cyclist and a 1.5 metre gap when the speed limit is above 60km/h.

However, when it comes to deciding whether a road obstruction permits crossing double lines, the RMS states that 'drivers must consider if they have a clear view of oncoming traffic, if it is necessary and reasonable in all circumstances to cross the dividing line, and if it is safe to do so.'

So, if you need to get around a fallen tree, a crashed vehicle or a broken down car - crossing unbroken lines would be considered legal. But if you're just wanting to get around a slower moving vehicle, or a vehicle stopped in a line of a traffic, it is illegal to cross a set of unbroken lines. A fallen tree, crashed vehicle or a broken down car are considered legal obstructions, while a slower moving vehicle, or a vehicle stopped in a line of traffic aren't.

While different laws apply to U-turns, it's important to remember that drivers cannot make a U-turn across any of the following:

A single continuous dividing line
A single continuous dividing line to the left of a broken line or,
Across two parallel continuous dividing lines.

And if you're caught illegally driving over a continuous dividing line, you could be up for two demerit points and a hefty $263 fine.

Road markings in Queensland include lines, painted islands, traffic lane arrows, dividing strips, and turning bays—with most being painted white.

Lines are painted on the road to guide you when driving.

Painted lines include:

Continuous centre lines

Single continuous line

Single continuous centre line left of a broken line

Double continuous centre lines

Video of continuous centre lines

Watch the video to learn more about continuous centre lines.

A lot of people believe you must never cross a continuous centre line.

But that's not the rule.

You certainly can't overtake when there's a continuous centre line and you can't do a U-turn across one.

But you are allowed to cross a continuous centre line if you are entering a road or leaving a road.

Even if there's a broken line on the other side, you're still permitted to cross the continuous centre line if you are entering or leaving a road.

But remember, if there's a double continuous centre line, you're not permitted to cross it at all.

Similar rules apply to painted traffic islands. If the island's surrounded by one continuous line, you can drive on or over it for up to 50 metres in order to enter or leave the road, or to enter a turning lane that begins immediately after the island.

But if the island's surrounded by double continuous lines, or if it separates traffic flowing in the same direction, like where an onramp merges on to a motorway, you must stay off it, unless you need to avoid an obstruction.

Doing it the right way is easy when you know how.

Double broken centre lines have the same legal standing as a single broken centre line.

Continuous lane lines

You must not cross a continuous line separating 2 lanes unless the lane you are moving to or from is a special purpose lane, such as a transit lane, and the driver is allowed to use the special purpose lane.

Continuous edge lines

Edge lines mark the edge of the road. The area to the left of the edge line is called the shoulder of the road and is not an extra lane for vehicles to travel. Cyclists may travel on the road shoulder.

Motorcyclists—with an open licence for the type of motorcycle they are riding—can also use the road shoulder on roads with a speed limit of 90km/h or over, to pass stationary or slow moving traffic providing they’re not travelling over 30km/h.

You must not cross the continuous white line at the edge of the road unless you are:

overtaking to the left of a vehicle that is turning right or making a U-turn
driving a slow-moving vehicle—to allow other vehicles to overtake or pass.

You can cross a continuous white edge line and travel for up to 100m when you are:

entering or leaving a single lane road
turning at an intersection from a single lane road
stopping at the side of a road—unless signs or markings say not to.

If you are on a multi-lane road you should not cross any edge line before turning.

If the edge line is yellow, stopping and parking is prohibited where the line is marked.

Painted traffic islands

Crossing a painted traffic island with a single continuous line

You can drive on a painted traffic island that is surrounded by a single continuous line for up to 50m to:

enter or leave the road
enter a turning lane that begins immediately after the island.

You can also drive on a painted island to safely overtake a cyclist.

You must not drive on a painted traffic island if the island:

is surrounded by double continuous lines
separates traffic flowing in the same direction—like where an onramp merges onto a motorway.

Stop and give way lines

Stop and give way lines have the same meaning and authority as stop and give way signs.

If you approach a stop line or give way line, where there is no corresponding sign installed, you must obey the road markings as if there was a sign in place.