Loading bays are similar in appearance to other white parking bays, rectangular in shape and made up of a broken white line.

“Path lights only cover a 10-foot radius which means that your landscape can become cluttered with lighting fixtures. Spotlights create glare and take away from the overall look of a landscape lighting design. Moonlighting on the other hand, places LED lights high enough in trees to illuminate a 30-40” radius of soft glow that keeps your property visible, safe, and looking its best.”

You can find the markings before a number of junctions and roads with varying widths, where only one vehicle is permitted to pass.

Lanes reserved for buses are clearly marked with the words “BUS LANE” throughout, and are usually accompanied with signs that indicate if any other vehicles are ever permitted to use them.

So whether you’re puzzled by paintwork on the road or you’re a learner driver seeing them for the first time, our handy guide with real-world examples will help remind you what all the various lines, zig-zags and boxes really mean.

Moonlighting lights

The only time you can stop on a clearway is to avoid an accident, if you are instructed to by police or ambulance services, and in emergency situations.

“You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less.”

You should always check nearby signs for enforcement times and know that when days aren’t specified, rules apply throughout the year.

Whether you are looking for romance, already have it in your life, or just like the sentiment – you can have it all. Restaurants, hotels, and parks are just a few types of commercial properties that have been taking advantage of the romantic glow of moonlighting to better serve their guests.

Markings along the edge of the road usually relate to parking and waiting rules. The most common examples feature below:

Bradley Martin, Owner and Operator of Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting of Jackson MS,  and an expert in the field of moonlighting, suggests this type of lighting for most of his residential and commercial clients because of its versatility.

A UK road with single yellow lines means that there are parking and waiting restrictions in place. You can park to load/unload for up to 40 minutes or drop/pick-up someone for up to five minutes..

A triangle pointing towards your car and featuring a thicker, straight line further away from your vehicle, indicates a give way line ahead. After seeing the marking, you should slow down and prepare to stop to let other road users pass.

A ‘chunkier’, broken white line indicates that you must give way to traffic from the right at mini roundabouts. These smaller junctions are common on local roads.

A clearway on the road is a designated stretch of roadway where stopping or parking is prohibited during specific times to ensure that traffic flows freely without obstructions. The main purpose of a clearway is to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion, and enhance road safety by eliminating obstructions caused by parked or stopped vehicles.

According to Rule 130 of the Highway Code if the area is bordered by a broken white line you shouldn’t enter unless completely necessary and it’s safe to do so.

According to Bradley, “A cleverly composed moonlighting design will create some truly amazing shadows or utilize a dappled effect across the property to generate intrigue. Using these techniques will enhance the beauty of any residential or commercial property and welcome guests with a wow factor”.

They only appear when a hazard isn’t immediately obvious. Look out for them when approaching junctions or a central refuge.

The kerb marking usually appears with a white sign reading “No loading at any time”. Drivers may stop near double yellow kerb lines to drop off and pick up passengers.

Solarmoonlight outdoor

The blue motorway marker signs will come with three pieces of information you will need to give to breakdown or emergency services should they be needed. The top line shows what motorway you are on. You will then see an A or B – this shows the direction you’re travelling in. And the bottom line states how far you are from a certain point on the road network.

Outdoor hangingmoonlight

Rule 128 of the Highway Code says you may cross the lines to overtake if it is safe and you can complete the manoeuvre before reaching a solid white line on your side.

They separate opposing flows of traffic and can vary in length and gap size between lines depending on speed limit. These are probably the most common marking you’ll encounter when driving.

Yellow zig-zags that appear with the words “SCHOOL KEEP CLEAR” are painted to show stationary vehicles are prohibited, even if picking up or dropping off children to school.

On wider roads and motorways, you’ll often see lanes labelled with the name of locations and routes ahead to help you move into the correct lane.

MoonCeiling Light Cover

So many business and homeowners desire to light their property at night. But many  conventional light sources create a harsh glare that isn’t conducive to ambiance or curb appeal. An outdoor lighting method called moonlighting, has been rapidly gaining popularity. Here we review the many benefits of moonlighting your landscape.

Hazard warning lines are similar in appearance to centre lines with one key difference, the painted sections are longer in length than the broken unpainted stretches.

The best way to obtain this effect is by contacting your local Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting Designer. The Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting team of highly trained landscape lighting professionals will explore your property and turn it into a nighttime paradise.

Parking without loading is prohibited in these bays and they’re normally found along high streets and outside shop parades.

Outdoormoon lighting fixtures

If there are no accompanying signs, waiting times are restricted to the duration specified throughout the whole year, including Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Moon lightingtrees

Individuals who revel in midnight swims, throwing late night parties in their outdoor entertainment space, or require lighting for safety, are particularly fond of moonlighting.

While many people originally decide to use moonlighting to brighten their patio, swimming pool, or entrance, many are so enchanted by the effect that they ultimately choose to use this beneficial lighting technique throughout their entire space.

Blue marker signs on a motorway are used to help drivers pinpoint road locations for maintenance and emergency services. They will also show the direction to the nearest emergency roadside telephone.

In residential landscapes this dreamy lighting is perfect for outdoor seating areas, poolscapes, and gardens. Even on cloudy nights, the moonlighting effect turns your space into an illuminated paradise with the artistry of light.

Unlike box junctions, there are no situations where your vehicle can be on these markings. You can find them where traffic would otherwise prevent cars from turning.

MoonCeiling Light Projector

These white, double broken lines tell motorists to give way to traffic on major roads. Drivers won’t always have to stop at this line, but must keep an eye out for traffic crossing their path to do so.

Single yellow lines on UK roads signify waiting, unloading, and parking restrictions. These are often time sensitive and there will be signs indicating when they are in force. However, two yellow lines means parking and waiting are prohibited at all times.

Double white lines can appear in a number of ways; where the line nearest to you is broken, where the line nearest to you is solid and, finally, where both lines are solid.

Moonlighting landscapelighting

A white line across the road will appear alongside traffic lights or in some cases, in an area of police control. It’s important to stop before the line if directed to do so by traffic lights or a member of the police.

The boxes appear at busy junctions to ensure the flow of traffic and some signalled roundabouts, where you must not stop in them at all. Learn more about yellow box junctions.

Although you must not enter the box until your exit road is clear, you may wait in one if you want to turn right and are only stopped by oncoming traffic or other vehicles waiting to turn right.

Just like the moon shines down on your property all night long, you can utilize this moonlighting technique to illuminate your yard throughout the night. The softer glow of the lights won’t be a severe irritant to you or your neighbors the way other lighting sources can.

They mark the edge of the carriageway and act as a useful guide to maintain a safe, lateral position on the road. You can expect to find these in areas prone to fog and mist, at sudden changes of road width and on unlit stretches of road.

Single yellow lines are found on the edges of roads and indicate that drivers should never wait on this section between the times given on nearby signs.

Otherwise known as lane dividers, these markings are white in colour and feature short, broken white lines which you should drive within.

White bay markings are rectangular in shape and made up of broken lines. Nearby signs indicate the duration of waiting or parking time permitted during the dates and time shown.

*Max 50% applies to new Complete cover for 1 person. Ends 01/11, 4pm. †At least 10% of new customers paid this or less since 12/08. Comparison based on theaa.com closest equivalent cover at 25/10.

The sooner you arrange to add artificial moonlight to your property, the sooner you’ll enjoy all the benefits of moonlighting. You’ll quickly fall in love with your outdoor space all over again.

Named bays are rectangular in shape and made up of a broken white line. Words such as “DOCTOR” or “POLICE” appear beside the bays to show who they’re reserved for.

If you leave your moonlighting on all night, you won’t have to worry about annoying home security lights disrupting neighboring properties. Moonlighting creates a space that is safe to navigate while discouraging unwanted intruders from trespassing.

You can reach a Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting expert near you through our website, social media pages or by calling 800-737-4068.

If there are no accompanying signs, waiting restrictions apply everyday including Sundays and Bank Holidays. They are commonly found on residential streets.

*Max 50% applies to new Complete cover for 1 person. Ends 01/11, 4pm. †At least 10% of new customers paid this or less since 12/08. Comparison based on theaa.com closest equivalent cover at 25/10.

“If you have a two-acre property and you look out of your window at night, all you will see is darkness. Utilizing moonlighting in your landscape lighting will fill the foreground with a soft glow and give you the visibility you need.”, says Bradley Martin.

Drivers may stop near single yellow kerb lines to drop off and pick up passengers. You can expect to find these along high streets and near shop parades.

The terms “clearway” and “urban clearway” refer to specific traffic management regulations aimed at improving traffic flow and safety, but they have distinct differences in their application and rules.

Rule 141 of the Highway Code says that “You may enter a bus lane to stop, to load or unload where this is not prohibited.”

It's a good idea to learn what each road marking means with an interactive app. Driving Theory Test UK is a great place to start, with all necessary learning materials, hazard perception clips and Highway Code info included. You can download it here:

These are used to prohibit drivers from travelling in an area of the road used by the opposing flow of traffic, generally where overtaking visibility is restricted.

Moonlighting your landscape involves soft lights carefully placed very high in trees or structures about your property that mimic the gentle silvery glow of moonlight. This technique is less commonly used because it requires more effort and skill to pull it off successfully. The effort is well worth it because homeowners and commercial property owners quickly fall in love with the results.

The markings can appear in a number of areas, especially those popular with car-sharing services, where the words “CAR CLUB” are painted.

The Highway Code states that double yellow lines mean you must not stop, park, or wait for any period of time – or for any reason. That means drivers who park on double yellow lines could be issued with large fines – even if they’ve broken down and need assistance.

Rule 129 of the Highway Code says you must not cross or straddle these lines unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road.

‘Keep clear’ sections of road are clearly labelled in large white font with lines above and below the text to show the limits of the no-stopping area.

Moonlighting your landscaping makes use of down lighting, which not only provides a good source of illumination for late night walks on footpaths, but also turns your yard into a work of art.

This broken white line is a reminder to give way to traffic from the right at roundabouts. You can expect to find these at larger roundabouts.

The words “loading only” appear along the edges of the bay and an accompanying white sign shows whether parking in the bay is limited to goods vehicles, and the times at which restrictions apply.