# British road lanes--why the zig-zag stripe on Abbey Road? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759 "2009-08-08T18:19:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/1 "2009-08-08T18:19:46Z")
here’s a web-cam of what I assume is a [typical British street](http://www.abbeyroad.com/visit/) Can someone please explain why the lanes are marked with zig-zag stripes, and not straight lines? It sure looks weird to a foreigner. After all, cars drive in straight lines. When I drive, I tend to keep the car in my lane and parallel to the stripes.It’s just kind of intuitive, and doesn’t take much thought, ya know. I think I would find it disorienting to have all those zigging and zagging stripes wooshing past my window. (And that’s without mentioning the whole business of driving on the wrong side of the street 🙂 ) \*although it is not just _any_ street–it’s Abbey Road , from the Beatles album cover. ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/2 "2009-08-08T18:24:44Z")
Lines change to zig-zag to indicate that a pedestrian crossing is near, then go back to normal after the crossing. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/3 "2009-08-08T19:32:13Z")
An area in suburban D.C. tried [something similar](http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2009/04/zig-zag-lines-slow-virginia-drivers.html), the theory being that changing the lines to zig-zag would get drivers’ attention and disrupt them enough to get them to pay more attention and slow down in that area. In the UK I am guessing this is more a matter of convention and driver training rather than cognitive psychology, but I dunno. Isn’t there also special striping in England indicating not to stop within that area (“don’t block the box”)? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/4 "2009-08-08T19:38:32Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > Lines change to zig-zag to indicate that a pedestrian crossing is near, then go back to normal after the crossing. According to a friend who works for the DMV equivalent in Wales, zigzag lane lines indicate “no parking” areas – and the center line between lanes of traffic mimics the curbside (kerbside?) lines to reinforce the message (in case the other lines are obscured, for example). ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/5 "2009-08-08T19:51:28Z")
What **Dog80** said. Some crossings in Australia use a similar system. Instead of making the lane lines zigzag, in Australia they place another zigzag line in the middle of the lane. I couldn’t find a photograph of it, so i copied [this image](https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu:443/mhender4/public_html/gen_images/crosswalk.jpg) from the New South Wales driver handbook. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/6 "2009-08-08T19:54:45Z")
They mean no stopping, rather than no parking (They often appear outside schools so the area is clear for children to cross). The exceptions of course are giving way and breaking down. Edit: They’re not there to tell you a pedestrian crossing is coming up. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/7 "2009-08-08T20:25:32Z")
A timely OP. Today is the 40th anniversary of the date on which The Beatles crossed Abbey Road for the photo on the cover of the eponymous album. The road was closed for one hour while the world and his wife turned up to replicate the proceedings of 8 August 1969. [BBC News Report](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8191467.stm) ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/8 "2009-08-08T20:27:05Z")
> [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](#): > > They mean no stopping, rather than no parking (They often appear outside schools so the area is clear for children to cross). The exceptions of course are giving way and breaking down. > > Edit: They’re not there to tell you a pedestrian crossing is coming up. But they certainly serve that purpose, given that white zig-zag lines seem to be used alongside pedestrian crosswalks. If the UK Highway Code’s [Road Markings](http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069860?IdcService=GET_FILE&dID=72401&Rendition=Web) leaflet (PDF) is any indication, zig-zag lines outside school entrances are marked in yellow. Also, the [Highway Code](http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070339) says: > [@](#): > > You MUST NOT park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. So, the lines do serve as a No Parking instruction, but by their very nature they seem also to serve as a warning that the crossing is coming up. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/9 "2009-08-08T21:02:18Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > A timely OP. > > Today is the 40th anniversary of the date on which The Beatles crossed Abbey Road for the photo on the cover of the eponymous album. The road was closed for one hour while the world and his wife turned up to replicate the proceedings of 8 August 1969. > > [BBC News Report](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8191467.stm) I find it very amusing that the volume control on the embedded video on the BBC site goes to 11. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/10 "2009-08-08T21:16:33Z")
They have those here in Virginia. They mark the W&OD trail. It throws you off the first time you see it, but after that, it’s just another marking. My friend likes to goof off when he crosses it - he zigzags the car, trying to mimic the lines. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/11 "2009-08-08T22:19:25Z")
I think you are not supposed to cross the road in the area marked by the zig-zags, only on the actual crossing. But the main purpose of the zig-zags is to provide a zone of good visibility each side of the crossing so that drivers can see if anyone is waiting to cross. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2009, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/12 "2009-08-08T22:41:09Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > I find it very amusing that the volume control on the embedded video on the BBC site goes to 11. I found it amusing that a software engineer might have slipped a little homage into the site too when I noticed a while back. To the OP, I guess disorientating might serve to be a warning. Much like how I guess the lines dividing lanes on a motorway are laid down differently to help keep drivers flowing a little better where the road may diverge or merge ([like this](http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&ll=54.642266,-5.917468&spn=0.001419,0.005493&t=k&z=18)). ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/13 "2009-08-09T00:52:12Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > They have those here in Virginia. What part of Viriginia is Pittsburgh, PA, in? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stafford_cripps/32/7167_2.png) [@The\_Stafford\_Cripps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stafford_Cripps)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/14 "2009-08-09T02:29:58Z")
> [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](#): > > They mean no stopping, rather than no parking (They often appear outside schools so the area is clear for children to cross). The exceptions of course are giving way and breaking down. > > Edit: They’re not there to tell you a pedestrian crossing is coming up. They are there to tell you that a pedestrian crossing is coming up - you don’t get white zigzags anywhere other than at a zebra, pelican or other type of pedestrian crossing. Of course they don’t mean ‘no stopping’ - the point is that vehicles must stop at a zebra crossing if a pedestrian is using it, or at other crossings if the light is not green. Giving way doesn’t come into it since you rarely get these markings at places where vehicles will be pulling out. I wonder if you’re getting confused with areas painted with white hatching, which means your vehicle is not supposed to enter that area. ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 7:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/15 "2009-08-09T07:55:30Z")
From [The Highway Code](http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070339) > [@](#): > > You **MUST NOT** park on a crossing or in the area covered by the zig-zag lines. ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/16 "2009-08-09T08:04:47Z")
> [@ticker](#): > > From [The Highway Code](http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070339) As I said above, this is to provide a clear zone of vision each side of the crossing. This prevents the scenario where a motorist is suddenly confronted with a pedestrian emerging behind a parked car and walking onto the crossing. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/17 "2009-08-09T10:32:13Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I couldn’t find a photograph of it, so i copied [this image](https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu:443/mhender4/public_html/gen_images/crosswalk.jpg) from the New South Wales driver handbook. [Here’s one](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=sydney&sll=-37.814251,144.963169&sspn=0.090589,0.15295&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.860819,151.17705&spn=0.000372,0.000597&t=h&z=21&layer=c&cbll=-33.860734,151.177113&panoid=xFA2XnjKfOgooIdDz35qnw&cbp=12,208.24,,0,5) in Google Maps street view. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/18 "2009-08-09T10:43:42Z")
You are not allowed to park in this zone, for any reason and most important, you are not allowed to overtake. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/19 "2009-08-09T12:10:55Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > You are not allowed to park in this zone, for any reason and most important, you are not allowed to overtake. What he said. As a pedestrian, I appreciate this. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2009, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759/20 "2009-08-09T13:22:22Z")
Could everyone please stop giving accurate information about this? Or at least can we close this thread and lock it? There are always a few tourists near Abbey Road. If they notice the zig-zag lines, we (Londoners) prefer to keep a straight face and say these very rare and special markings are used by the National Heritage Association to denote one of four things: the site of an historical battle, any site where the Queen has slept, anything associated with Jane Austen or a site known to be associated with the Beatles. The tourists always go away perfectly satisfied with this ‘information’. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-road-lanes-why-the-zig-zag-stripe-on-abbey-road/505759.md?page=2)