Explaining Singapore’s Road Markings That Even Seasoned Drivers Didn’t Know About

Get $30 cashback when you sign up for Revolut, and an additional $188* if you're the 8th or 88th user here: https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/tbc188 *T&Cs and end date apply. Business Enquiries: https://www.business.thebluecats.com.sg/ The Blue Cats' Instagram:   / singaporethebluecats   -------- Most drivers know the basics: double yellow lines mean you can stop briefly to drop off or pick up passengers, but parking is not allowed. The penalty for parking there is a fine: $70 for a first offence and $110 for repeated offences, but no demerit points. What surprises many is the rule for single yellow lines. These look similar but allow parking between 7:01 pm and 6:59 am, as well as on Sundays and public holidays. They are not common, often found only on quieter side roads, which explains why many drivers don’t realise this exception exists. The zigzag lines, however, bring heavier penalties. Double yellow zigzag lines, usually found near schools or critical areas, mean no stopping at all unless traffic requires it. Offenders face a $120 fine and three demerit points. That’s why private hire drivers and taxis avoid lingering there. Single yellow zigzag lines, on the other hand, are often misunderstood. Unlike the double version, they allow picking up or dropping off passengers but strictly prohibit parking. Parking here comes with harsher penalties: a $120 fine plus three demerit points. Another common marking is the single white zigzag line, usually found near zebra crossings. Many drivers don’t even notice them, but these “zebra-controlled areas” have rules similar to double yellow zigzag lines. You cannot stop there unless traffic requires it, and the penalty mirrors the zigzag rules—$120 and three demerit points. These markings ensure pedestrian safety, so the law treats violations more seriously than simple parking offences. Finally, there are roads without markings, typically outside landed properties. Here, parking is generally free for all, which is why some residents use bins to “reserve” their spots. However, this only applies if there isn’t a continuous single or double white line in the centre of the road. If there is, parking becomes illegal.