AS 1742 Road Marking Standards Guide Australia
AS 1742 series governs road marking across Australia including line types, colours, dimensions, and placement.
AS 1742: Road Marking Standards Guide
A contractor marked a private road in a business park using yellow centre lines. The council inspector failed the work immediately. In Australia, yellow centre lines aren't used—that's a US convention. AS 1742 specifies white for all lane delineation.
AS 1742 is the comprehensive Australian Standard series covering road marking. While primarily written for public roads, it's widely referenced for private roads, carparks, and any traffic areas where consistent marking helps users navigate safely.. Learn more about our road line marking
The AS 1742 Series Structure
AS 1742 is a multi-part series covering different aspects of traffic control. The part most relevant to line marking is Part 2.. Learn more about our road line marking Melbourne
Key Parts:
- AS 1742.1: General introduction and index
- AS 1742.2: Traffic control devices for general use (pavement markings)
- AS 1742.3: Traffic control for works on roads
- AS 1742.10: Pedestrian control and protection
- AS 1742.11: Parking controls
Line Types and Meanings
AS 1742.2 defines specific line types with distinct meanings that drivers are trained to recognise.
Centre Lines:
- Single broken white line: Overtaking permitted with caution
- Single continuous white line: No overtaking (single direction)
- Double continuous white lines: No overtaking (both directions)
- Broken line alongside continuous: Overtaking permitted from broken side only
Edge Lines:
- Continuous white edge line: Delineates road edge
- Yellow edge line: No stopping zone
Lane Lines:
- Broken white lines: Lane guidance, lane changing permitted
- Continuous white lines: Lane change not permitted (turn lanes, merges)
Colour Specifications
Australian road marking uses a limited colour palette with specific meanings.
White:
Used for all lane delineation, centre lines, edge lines, stop lines, give way lines, pedestrian crossings, and general traffic guidance. White is the default colour for road marking.
Yellow:
Reserved for parking restrictions: no stopping zones, no parking zones, loading zones, taxi zones, and bus zones. Yellow indicates parking control rather than traffic flow.
Blue:
Used exclusively for accessible parking bays—the International Symbol of Access on blue background.
Line Dimensions
AS 1742.2 specifies dimensions for various line types.. Learn more about our thermoplastic line marking
Standard Line Widths:
- Centre lines: 80-150mm (typically 100mm)
- Edge lines: 80-150mm (typically 100mm)
- Lane lines: 80-150mm (typically 100mm)
- Stop lines: 200-450mm (typically 300mm)
- Give way lines: 300-450mm (broken line)
Broken Line Patterns:
- Standard broken centre line: 3m mark, 9m gap (1:3 ratio)
- Continuity lines (approaching hazards): 1m mark, 1m gap
- Lane lines: 1m mark, 3m gap
Pavement Arrows
Directional arrows follow specific designs defined in AS 1742.2.
Arrow Types:
- Straight ahead arrow
- Left turn arrow
- Right turn arrow
- Combined straight/turn arrows
- Merge arrows
Standard arrow length for roads is 6m, with smaller variants (3m, 1.5m) for lower-speed environments like carparks.. Learn more about our road line marking Sydney
Application to Private Roads and Carparks
While AS 1742 is written for public roads, applying its principles to private roads and carparks ensures consistency and user familiarity.
Where AS 1742 Applies to Private Areas:
- Private roads with public access (shopping centres, business parks)
- Carpark driveways and circulation routes
- Loading dock access roads
- Industrial estate internal roads
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't Australia use yellow centre lines like the US?
Australia follows the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which uses white for traffic flow markings. Yellow is reserved for parking restrictions, making the system consistent and preventing confusion.
Can I use different colours for decorative effect?
For traffic control markings, no. Using non-standard colours creates confusion and potential liability. Decorative coloured surfaces are possible in non-traffic areas, but any traffic marking should follow AS 1742 colours.
Do carparks need to follow AS 1742 exactly?
Carparks primarily follow AS/NZS 2890.1 for parking bays and AS 1742 principles for circulation routes. Scaled-down versions of AS 1742 arrows and markings are appropriate for lower-speed carpark environments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is AS 1742?
AS 1742 is the Australian Standard series Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, published by Standards Australia, covering road and traffic marking. The part most relevant to line marking is AS 1742.2, which defines pavement markings. It governs public roads and is widely referenced for private roads and carparks.
What colour are centre lines in Australia?
In Australia, centre lines and lane lines are white under AS 1742.2; yellow centre lines are a United States convention not used here. Yellow markings in Australia indicate no-stopping zones along kerbs. Using yellow for lane delineation is a common reason council inspectors fail line-marking work.
What does a double unbroken line mean?
Under AS 1742.2, a double unbroken white centre line means drivers on neither side may cross or overtake. Where a continuous line sits beside a broken line, only the driver next to the broken line may overtake. These markings are legally enforceable on Australian roads.
What is the difference between AS 1742.2 and AS 1742.11?
Within the AS 1742 series from Standards Australia, AS 1742.2 covers traffic control devices for general use, including pavement and line markings, while AS 1742.11 covers parking controls and restrictions. Both form part of the multi-part manual for uniform traffic control across Australia.
How wide are road line markings under AS 1742?
Under AS 1742.2, longitudinal road lines such as lane and centre lines are typically 100 millimetres wide, with edge lines commonly between 100 and 150 millimetres. Consistent line widths keep markings recognisable to drivers at highway speeds across Australia.
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Written by
Nizi BhandaryLine Marking Specialist, Line Marking Australia
Nizi Bhandary is a line marking specialist with Line Marking Australia, working hands-on across car park, warehouse, road and sports-court projects nationwide. Nizi focuses on AS/NZS 2890 and AS 1742 compliant work and writes these guides to help facility managers, builders and councils get compliant, long-lasting line marking — without the guesswork.
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