The rules outlined below are an overview, please refer to the rule references for more details.

Give way & stop lines
For detailed information see Give way.

Dividing lines
Broken white dividing lines
On a road with a broken white dividing line you must keep left of the lines and drive as close to the left side of the road as you can.  You may cross these lines to enter or leave the road, but only overtake or U-turn if it is safe and if the road ahead is clear.

Single continuous dividing lines
A single continuous dividing line means you can cross it to enter or leave the road, but you must not overtake or U-turn.  You must not park opposite the dividing line unless there is at least three metres of clearance between your vehicle and the dividing line unless otherwise indicated on a parking sign.

Double continuous dividing lines
You must always keep left of these lines.  Do not cross them to overtake, to turn, or to enter or leave the road or for any reason (except to avoid an obstruction if safe and necessary).

A broken line to the left of a continuous line
You may cross these lines to overtake, or to enter or leave the road, but only overtake or U-turn if it is safe and the road ahead is clear.

A continuous line to the left of a broken line
A single continuous line to the left of a broken line means you can cross it to enter or leave the road, but you must not overtake or make a U-turn.  You must not park opposite the dividing lines unless there is at least three metres of clearance between your vehicle and the dividing line unless otherwise indicated on a parking sign.

Lane markings
You must drive with your vehicle completely within a lane. 

Continuous lane lines
A driver must not cross a continuous line separating lanes unless avoiding an obstruction, permitted by sign, or permitted to drive in a special purpose lane.

Overhead lane signals
If overhead lane signals are in use, travel in the lanes over which there is a speed limit sign, or a green or white arrow. You must stay out of lanes with a red X.  Sometimes the overhead lane signals can change.  If you are driving in a lane and you then see a green or white arrow, indicating one or more directions, you must drive in that direction by safely changing lanes.

Roads without marked lanes
Where there are no lane markings and there are two or more lines of traffic travelling in the same direction, you may change from one line of traffic to another if you signal, and if it is safe to do so.  However, you may only overtake another vehicle on the left side when it is turning right or if the vehicle is stationary and it is safe to do so.

Special purpose lanes
Road markings and/or signs are used to set aside lanes for special vehicles. 

• Tram lanes – see Trams
• Bicycle lanes – see Bicycles
• Bus lanes – see Buses 

Transit lanes operate during times specified on the signs, and are for buses, taxis, motorcycles, trams and vehicles carrying two or more people (T2 sign), or three or more people (T3 sign).  You may drive in a transit lane for up to 100 metres if it is necessary to make a turn.

Traffic lane arrows
You must not go in a direction other than that indicated by the arrows.

• if stopping or parking in the bicycle lane is permitted, a driver may drive for up to 50 metres in the bicycle lane
• a driver may drive for up to 50 metres in a bicycle lane if the driver if a public bus, public minibus, or taxi, and is dropping off or picking up passengers.

The driver of any vehicle may drive for up to 50 metres in a bicycle lane if it is necessary for the driver to drive in the lane:

• to enter or leave the road
• to enter a part of the road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind
• to overtake a vehicle that is turning right, or making a U-turn from the centre of the road and is giving a right change of direction signal
• to enter a marked lane, or part of the road where there is room for a line of traffic from the side of the road
• to avoid an obstruction
• if information on or with a traffic sign applying to the lane indicates that the driver may drive in the lane.

The driver must give way to any bike riders already in the bicycle lane before they move into the lane, as well as indicate they intend to move into the lane.

Bicycle boxes at intersections
A driver facing a red light at an intersection with a bicycle storage area (a ‘box’ containing a bicycle symbol) must stop at the first stop line and not proceed into the area marked for bicycles until the light changes.  For rules for riders at bicycle boxes see Bicycles.

Painted traffic islands
You can drive on a painted island with a single line outline for up to 50 metres to enter or leave the road or enter a turning lane, but you must give way to any vehicle entering the turning lane from the marked lane next to it.  You must not drive on or over two parallel lines surrounding a painted island.

You must not drive on a painted island with a continuous line that separates traffic travelling in the same direction, such as at a freeway on-ramp.

Rule references 
Road Safety Road Rules 2009

• 96 Keep clear markings
• 132 Keeping to the left of the centre of a road or the dividing line
• 133 Exceptions to keeping to the left of the centre of a road
• 134 Exceptions to keeping to the left of a dividing line
• 137 Keeping off a dividing strip
• 138 Keeping off a painted island
• 146 Driving within a single marked lane or line of traffic
• 147 Moving from one marked lane to another marked lane across a continuous line separating the lanes

To look up these rules and check for other related rules, please refer to the Acts and Regulations administered by VicRoads.