You are generally only allowed to travel up to 100 metres on or over a continuous edge line, and only in specific situations such as turning, entering or leaving a road, or safely pulling over.

How far can you travel on or over a continuous edge line?

In Australian road rules (for example, South Australia and Queensland, which closely follow the national model rules), a continuous edge line marks the outer edge of the traffic lane and is not meant to be driven on like a normal lane line. However, the law does allow some limited and clearly defined exceptions.

The 100‑metre limit

Most state/territory rules that spell this out say:

  • You may drive on or across a continuous edge line for up to 100 metres in certain situations.
  • Typical wording is: “The maximum distance you may drive across an edge line to enter or leave or overtake on the left of a vehicle intending to turn right is 100 metres.”

In practice, that means:

  • You cannot just sit on the edge line and use it as a “shoulder lane”.
  • Any time you drive on or over it, you should do so for only as long as needed and well under 100 m where possible.

When are you actually allowed?

Common lawful reasons to travel briefly on or over a continuous edge line include:

  • Turning at an intersection from or into a single‑lane road
  • Entering or leaving a road (e.g., into driveways, side roads, service roads, rest areas)
  • Moving into or out of an emergency stopping lane or similar shoulder area
  • Overtaking a vehicle that is turning right, by passing safely on its left
  • Pulling over to stop at the side of the road where stopping is otherwise legal
  • Driving a vehicle that is too long or wide to stay fully within the lane without touching the edge line

In each of these cases, the maximum permitted distance on or over the edge line is 100 metres.

What you cannot do

Even with these exceptions, there are clear “don’ts”:

  • Do not use the edge line as an extra lane to skip traffic.
  • Do not travel along the edge line for more than 100 m, even if the shoulder looks wide and safe.
  • Do not treat it like a normal overtaking lane; it is primarily for safety and breakdown space.
  • You must still give way appropriately and only cross when it is safe to do so.

Penalties for misusing the edge line can include fines and demerit points, and if a crash occurs, fault will almost certainly weigh against the driver misusing the edge line.

Quick FAQ style recap

Q: So what’s the simple rule?
You can travel on or over a continuous edge line only when necessary (turning, entering/leaving, pulling over, passing a right‑turner, etc.), and for no more than about 100 metres.

Q: Does this apply everywhere?
The 100 m limit and the list of allowed situations come from Australian rules (for example, South Australia and Queensland), but other states and countries may differ, so always check your local road rules.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.