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Driving safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
No Passing Zone Signs and Markings Explained
On a two-lane road, the yellow center line and a few signs tell you where passing is allowed. Here is what the federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) says about the NO PASSING ZONE pennant, the DO NOT PASS and PASS WITH CARE signs, and the markings they back up.
Pennantshape reserved for the NO PASSING ZONE sign (MUTCD)
Left sidewhere the pennant goes, at the start of the zone
Solid yellowon your side of the center line: no passing
900 feetminimum passing sight distance at 55 mph (Table 3B-1)
The short answer
A NO PASSING ZONE sign marks the start of a stretch where you should not cross the center line to pass. Follow the yellow line on your side: a solid line means no passing, and a broken line means passing with care is permitted when it is safe.
The three passing signs
NO PASSING ZONE (W14-3): a pennant-shaped isosceles triangle with its longer axis horizontal, pointing to the right. The MUTCD reserves the pennant shape exclusively for this sign. When used, it is installed on the left-hand side of the roadway at the beginning of a no-passing zone identified by pavement markings, DO NOT PASS signs, or both.
DO NOT PASS (R4-1): a regulatory sign that may be used in addition to pavement markings to emphasize the restriction on passing. It may be placed at the beginning of, and at intervals within, a zone where sight distance is restricted or other conditions make passing inappropriate.
PASS WITH CARE (R4-2): the MUTCD says it should be installed at the downstream end of a no-passing zone if a DO NOT PASS sign has been installed at the upstream end.
Passing after dark? See our night driving tips. For entering a highway, read how to merge onto a highway.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Sections 2A.05, 2B.36, 2B.37 and 2C.53, read November 4, 2026.
What the yellow center lines mean
On two-lane, two-way roads, the center line is one of three patterns:
| Marking | What it means |
|---|---|
| One broken yellow line | Passing zone in both directions: crossing the center line to pass with care is permitted for traffic in either direction. |
| Broken yellow line beside a solid yellow line | One-direction no-passing zone: passing with care is permitted for traffic next to the broken line, and prohibited for traffic next to the solid line. |
| Two solid yellow lines | Two-direction no-passing zone: crossing the center line to pass is prohibited for traffic in either direction. |
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Section 3B.01, read November 4, 2026. The MUTCD says a single solid yellow line is not used as a center line on a two-way road, and center lines are always yellow.
Where no-passing zones are required
The MUTCD says no-passing zone markings must be used on:
Two-way roads at lane-reduction transitions, where the number of lanes drops.
Approaches to obstructions that must be passed on the right.
Approaches to grade crossings.
Approaches to crosswalks.
On two-way, two-lane or three-lane roads with center line markings, no-passing zones are also established at hills, curves and other locations where an engineering study shows passing must be prohibited because sight distance is inadequate or other special conditions exist. Where two no-passing zones are less than 400 feet apart, the MUTCD says the markings should connect them.
From the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Section 3B.03, read November 4, 2026.
Passing sight distance
On roads with center line markings, the MUTCD requires no-passing zone markings at hills and curves wherever the passing sight distance drops below these minimums for the 85th-percentile speed or the speed limit:
| Speed | Minimum passing sight distance |
|---|---|
| 25 mph | 450 feet |
| 35 mph | 550 feet |
| 45 mph | 700 feet |
| 55 mph | 900 feet |
| 65 mph | 1,100 feet |
| 70 mph | 1,200 feet |
Selected rows from the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, Table 3B-1 and Section 3B.03, read November 4, 2026. On a hill, passing sight distance is the distance at which an object 3.5 feet above the pavement can be seen from a point 3.5 feet above the pavement. The zone begins where the sight distance first becomes less than the minimum and ends where it again becomes greater.
Passing safely
Check the line on your side. If the yellow line nearest you is solid, stay in your lane, even if the road ahead looks clear.
Watch for the pennant and DO NOT PASS signs. They mark where a zone starts or continues, often near a hill or curve where you cannot see far ahead.
Only start a pass you can finish. If you cannot see far enough ahead to get back into your lane well before oncoming traffic or the next no-passing zone, wait.
These tips are our own, based on the meaning of the signs and markings described in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1, read November 4, 2026. State law sets the passing rules where you drive.
Keep your brakes and tires ready
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | closed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 4, 2026. Holiday hours can differ.
No passing zone FAQ
What does a NO PASSING ZONE sign mean?
It marks the beginning of a no-passing zone. The MUTCD says that when it is used, the NO PASSING ZONE sign is installed on the left-hand side of the roadway at the beginning of a no-passing zone identified by pavement markings, DO NOT PASS signs, or both.
Which side of the road is the NO PASSING ZONE sign on?
The MUTCD says that if signing is needed on the left-hand side of the roadway for additional emphasis, NO PASSING ZONE signs may be used. When used, the sign goes on the left-hand side at the beginning of the zone.
What shape is a NO PASSING ZONE sign?
A pennant: an isosceles triangle with its longer axis horizontal, pointing to the right. The MUTCD reserves that shape exclusively for the NO PASSING ZONE sign.
What is the difference between DO NOT PASS and NO PASSING ZONE signs?
DO NOT PASS (R4-1) is a regulatory sign that may be used in addition to the pavement markings, at the beginning of and at intervals within a no-passing zone. NO PASSING ZONE (W14-3) is the pennant-shaped sign that may be added on the left-hand side of the roadway, at the beginning of the zone, for extra emphasis.
What do double solid yellow lines mean?
Two solid yellow lines are two-direction no-passing zone markings: crossing the center line to pass is prohibited for traffic in either direction.
What does a solid yellow line next to a broken yellow line mean?
It is a one-direction no-passing zone. Passing with care is permitted for traffic traveling next to the broken line, and prohibited for traffic traveling next to the solid line.
Where are no-passing zones required?
The MUTCD requires no-passing zone markings on two-way roads at lane-reduction transitions, approaches to obstructions that must be passed on the right, approaches to grade crossings, and approaches to crosswalks. On two- and three-lane two-way roads with center lines, they are also set at curves and hills where passing sight distance is too short.
What does The Works at Michigan City Ford include?
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check.
Book a routine checkup
Book The Works, which includes a brake inspection, tire rotation and pressure check, and battery test, at Michigan City Ford.
Sources
Sign and marking descriptions are from the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Revision 1 dated December 2025), read November 4, 2026. This page is a plain-language summary of national standards, not legal advice; state law sets the rules of the road where you drive. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), 11th Edition with Revision 1 (Sections 2A.05, 2B.36, 2B.37, 2C.53, 3B.01, 3B.03; Table 3B-1), Federal Highway Administration, Revision 1 dated December 2025 (PDF updated February 12, 2026), read November 4, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 4, 2026