There’s so much to keep in mind when you’re driving. In addition to the standard rules of the road, you need to understand street signage and the different pavement markings you may come across. Some of these are fairly straightforward. “Stop ahead” is self-explanatory, and an arrow in your lane means it’s a turn lane. But others are a little less common and don’t always have an immediately obvious meaning. For example, what do those yellow tags that sit in the middle of the road at times mean?

What Are Those Yellow Tags in the Middle of the Road?

These yellow tags are temporary road markers. They sit in the road to help drivers see where lane markings should be if the stretch of road containing those markings is under repair or otherwise not visible due to normal wear and tear. Typically, you’ll see these markers on the road during construction or other road work.

The  State of California Department of Transportation Division of Engineering Services (SCDTDES) directs construction crews and other road repair workers to use them “for temporary pavement delineation on bituminous seal coat projects.” Likewise, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LDTD) refers to these yellow tags as “reflectorized tabs” and explains that they should be used as “a temporary marking only on surface treatment course (chip seals).”

What’s the Difference Between Yellow Tags and Bumps?

Other short-term road markers, or “temporary reflectorized raised pavement markers,” as the LDTD calls them, “can be used as temporary markings within work zones for short-term lane shifts.” Per the department, they are “typically used in conjunction with striping for added emphasis at night.”

The SCDTDES divides the appropriate temporary pavement markers into groups based on the length of the repair project. The time frame dictates what combination of markers is appropriate for the road in question.

There are also several different kinds of permanent lane markers. The ones that look most similar to the temporary yellow tags are reflective yellow raised dots. The LDTD calls them “retroreflective raised pavement markers” and says they should be used “as a supplement to broken centerline pavement striping, four-lane undivided highways and some edge lines applications.”

Whether you’re looking at temporary or permanent lane markers, their meaning is the same. They assist drivers by making lane delineations clearer to avoid confusion on the road. If you see them while driving, treat them like you would paint lane lines.

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Rebecca Wright Brown
Rebecca has been her dad’s DIY assistant since she was old enough to walk. Prior to Family Handyman, she worked as a freelance writer and editor across industries.   
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