The user is given a large number of different commands due to the number of linetypes defined in the MUTCD. It is expected the user will have the expertise of a traffic engineer to know which type of marking is required in which location. This information is obtained from the descriptions and directions in the MUTCD.

As might be expected with all the different uses and types of line, the input of these points is tailored to provide the most useful easy method for each particular type.

Short Lines ⁠— Stop and Give Way Lines (Transverse)

There are a number of icons that select the required linetype and also line width.

	Description	Comment
or
	Signal stop line	12” for USA 300mm for AU/NZ
	Yield Triangles	Draw like a line, but is a series of blocks
	Holding line	0.6m line + 0.6m gap
	Roundabout circulatory	Dashed line
	Give way

To draw:

Short lines can be drawn as either a straight line or an arc. The 2 points = straight line & 3 points = arc principle is one that is used frequently throughout the GuideSIGN Markings commands.

Line (2 points):
AutoCAD: Select 1st point, select 2nd point, press Enter to finish.
– results in a straight line through the two selected points.

Microstation: Select 1st point, select 2nd point, right-click to finish.
– results in a straight line through the two selected points.

Arc (3 points):
AutoCAD: Select 1st point, select 2nd point, select 3rd point
– results in an arc being drawn through the three selected points.

Microstation: Select 1st point, select 2nd point, select 3rd point
– results in an arc being drawn through the three selected points.

Each of the points chosen can be subject to the optional split function detailed in section Split Function.

Longer Lines, Usually Longitudinal

There are quite a few lines that are drawn in this way. They all use the same identical method to draw them and GuideSIGN Markings changes the layer, linetype and color as necessary. The user will select the appropriate icon for the linetype (and width), such as these below.

	Description	Comment
or	Centre line	Metric or imperial depending on the territory initialized
	Lane line
	Edge line
	Hazard line
	Bus lane	Widths and line types
	Cycle lane	As per MUTCD
	Dashed lane
	Dotted line
	Yellow line	Color as per MUTCD
	White line

These all start off being drawn in a similar way as in Short Lines, i.e., the 2 points = straight line & 3 points = arc principle, but if you don’t press Enter or right-click, then you can continue drawing as a polyline using many arc or line segments until you press to finish the line or marking.

However, for linetypes consisting of a line plus gap linetype, the situation is more interesting. Experienced users of CAD systems will appreciate that CAD normally insists that each section of line must start and end with a length of line rather than a gap. Accordingly, the first and last parts of any dashed CAD line will be longer or shorter than the requested linetype, to be able to fit into the selected endpoints. When drawing road markings, it is desirable to show all the line markings to the correct length in order that the road marking drawing and required stripe length is fully understood.

GuideSIGN Markings overcomes these CAD restrictions, and line plus gap linetypes chosen from menus are always drawn in exact module lengths.

You will notice that a feature of GuideSIGN Markings is that the original drawn line is still remembered after you have drawn the dashed line. If you select and highlight the dashed marking, a green base line appears and the blue AutoCAD grips are shown at the end of this line not the white road marking. This means you can stretch, extend or alter the marking and the correct length lines (e.g., 4 ft line plus 2 ft gap) will always be maintained.