Swedish Road Markings Explained in English: Lines, Arrows and Symbols
Road markings tell you how to position the vehicle, where to stop, how lanes are organised and where special rules apply. This guide turns the official M-series markings into practical groups that are easier to learn.
Quick answer
Transportstyrelsen lists Swedish road markings from M1 to M34, including centre and lane lines, solid lines, warning lines, stop and yield lines, pedestrian and cycle markings, lane arrows, parking restrictions and special symbols.
Trying to memorise 30-plus codes in one sitting is not an effective study method. I recommend learning markings by function: first lines that organise traffic, then lines that restrict movement, then junction markings, then crossings and finally special-purpose symbols.
Watch: What Do the 'Shark Teeth' Road Markings Mean?
Review the Swedish give-way line before continuing with the full guide to road markings, lines, arrows and symbols.
Continue below for the full explanation, examples and official-source references.
Centre lines, lane lines and edge lines
The most basic markings organise the carriageway. M1 is the centre line or lane line and M2 is the edge line. These help you understand where your lane is and how traffic streams are separated.
M3 is a warning line. It is designed to draw attention to a situation where extra care is needed, for example because visibility or lane conditions ahead make a normal broken line insufficient. M4 is a guide line, used to guide traffic through areas such as junctions.
When studying, compare these markings side by side. The question is not just what they are called; it is how their shape changes your expectations.
Solid lines and prohibited areas
M8 is a solid line and M9 is a prohibited or barrier area. Transportstyrelsen also lists combined markings such as a centre/lane line beside a solid line (M10), a warning line beside a solid line (M11), and a centre line combined with a warning line (M12).
With combined lines, the marking on your side matters. This is a common place where learners look at the whole road and miss which line controls their own movement.
Study method: place an imaginary car on each side of a combined line and ask what each driver sees immediately beside their lane.
Stop line, yield line and advance warning
M13 is the stop line and M14 is the yield line. A stop line shows where you should stop when a stop duty applies. The yield line is the familiar row of triangular “shark teeth” that marks the point connected to a give-way duty.
M18 is an advance warning marking for an upcoming give-way or stop duty. It tells you that the controlling rule is ahead, so you should begin preparing before you reach the junction itself.
Combine the road marking with the relevant sign. Our priority rules guide explains how stop, give way, priority road and högerregeln fit together.
Pedestrian, cycle and speed-hump markings
M15 marks a pedestrian crossing. M16 is used for a cycle passage or cycle crossing. M17 marks a speed hump, and M17a is a cycle box.
These markings are not decorative. They tell you to expect vulnerable road users and to adapt speed and observation. A learner who recognises the marking but approaches too quickly has understood the symbol without applying the safety meaning.
Lane arrows and lane-change markings
M19 lane arrows show how a lane is intended to continue. They are especially important before larger junctions and roundabouts because they help you choose a suitable lane early.
M20 is a lane-change marking. In real driving, lane arrows should be read well before the last moment. Late decisions create unnecessary lane changes, which increase observation workload and can confuse other road users.
Parking and stopping markings
Transportstyrelsen lists M21 for no stopping or parking, M22 for no parking, M23 for reinforced stopping/parking restrictions and M24 for a parking bay. M31 marks a place reserved for a particular purpose and M33 is the disabled-parking symbol.
Always read road markings together with vertical signs and supplementary panels. For a full explanation of distances and stopping rules, use our parking rules in Sweden guide.
Other symbols you should recognise
The official list also includes walking/cycling arrows, cycle, pedestrian and bus symbols, speed markings, road numbers, STOP text and information markings. These can reinforce a rule or help organise how a lane or space is used.
The best revision is active recognition: look at the marking, name it, then state what you would do as the driver. Finish with the Swedish traffic signs hub so signs and markings are learned as one system.
Related guides and practice
Use these pages to connect the rule to the rest of your Swedish driving-licence preparation.
Frequently asked questions
How many official Swedish road-marking codes are there?
Transportstyrelsen lists the M-series from M1 to M34, including M17a.
What is the Swedish stop line marking?
M13 is the stop line.
What is the yield line in Sweden?
M14 is the yield line, commonly recognised as triangular markings or “shark teeth” across the approach.
What do lane arrows mean?
M19 lane arrows show the intended direction or continuation for a lane and should be followed together with other signs and markings.
Should I study road markings separately from road signs?
Learn them as separate categories first, then practise them together because real traffic situations often use signs and road markings at the same time.
Official sources
Rules and test procedures can change. The explanations on this page were reviewed against the official sources below on 30 August 2026.
Learn the road surface as a language
Road signs tell you a rule from the roadside; road markings often tell you where and how to carry it out. Study both together.