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Lane Departure
These are all Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Lane Departure Mitigation (LDM), Lane Departure Prevention (LDP), Lane Keeping Assist/Aid (LKA), Lane Keeping Assistant System (LKAS), Lane-keep Assist System (LAS), LaneSense Indicator, Lane Change Assist (LCA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK) symbols, or are part of a Driver Alert System. Assuming there are detectable lane markers, and the system is active, these indicators will light and will blink yellow/amber if the vehicle is traveling close to either the left or the right of the traveling lane.
- Before moving on, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, continue below.
- Otherwise return to our main Picture Symbols page and scan again!
This symbol, with the line drawn through it, indicates that the lane keeping system has either been turned off or has a fault. If the system cannot be switched back on, please find your dealer or a good repair center.
Active systems
Note that with some manufacturers, these systems are moving to active rather than simple warning status. This is to say that vehicles properly equipped will actually turn the steering wheel enough to remain in the proper lane (LDP above). Seen in green, it indicates that the system is on a ready and that both lane lines have been detected.
A warning chime may also be heard. The symbols look like a car in a lane or leaving a lane (or breaking through a fence!), or like lane markers with arrows pointing at them or just the markers. A steady black and white light indicates that lane keeping is not ready; green indicates the system is ready and may gently turn the steering wheel if the vehicle approaches a lane marking; and is seen in yellow/amber/orange and flashes as a lane departure warning when a lane marking has been unintentionally crossed.
Left and Right
We now have a manufacturer who is using the first symbol to the left and seen above as well as a fault indicator. But more importantly, it is using the next two images in red to indicate that the vehicle is close to the left lane’s edge or the right lane’s edge, respectively. The fact that the car’s steering wheel is likely vibrating or being actively steering to maintain the lane is not enough.
Opel threw a small wrench into this by making the left and right images yellow/amber/orange. Otherwise the system responds in much the same way. It uses the original image seen in the paragraph above to the far left and new one with the vehicle crossing to the left.
Audi
Audi went absolutely overboard, using a single lane in three colors making for six new images. In red, the lane departure system will guide the driver by actively moving the car back to center. If both right and left lights are shown, emergency assist has been activate.
In green, the lane departure warning is on a ready to provide warnings. In black and white, the system is on but is not ready to provide warnings.
Volvo
One manufacturer (Volvo) has chosen to combine the symbol on the left with the rain sensor indicator. They are shown in white or gray. In white, both the lane keeping and rain sensing systems are on. In gray, both systems are on but no lane markers are detected. The same is true if the rain sensor is not included.
Hands On
Another has added the Hands on Steering Wheel Indicator, but remains intended for the lane keeping system. The driver’s hands should, in fact, be on the wheel. In yellow/amber, it indicates a problem with the system. In green or black and white, it indicates the systems is on.
Lane Tracing
Lexus
In line with hands-on systems, these are Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) indicators. When driving on a road with clear lane lines with the dynamic radar cruise control operating, lane lines and preceding and surrounding vehicles are detected using the front camera and radar sensor, and the steering wheel is operated by LTA to maintain the vehicle’s lane position. In white, LTA is on standby. In green the system is operating. In yellow/amber/orange the vehicle is leaving the lane.
Toyota
Unfortunately, Toyota is using a different set of images — images already found on this page in the same colors as the three above. We’ve shown them here again, and you’ll see them elsewhere. In truth, we think they’re confused.
Back to Lane Tracing Assist, there are additional limitations to the LTA system and it will operate only when and not limited to: the lane width is approximately 10 to 13 ft. (3 to 4 m); the vehicle is not being driven around a sharp curve; the hands off steering wheel warning is not operating; etc.
Skoda
Skoda uses a system it calls Travel Assist and has chosen to keep the symbol set in green and white. In all green, Travel Assist is activated, and both cruise control and adaptive lane guidance are active. With the lanes painted white, the system is active along with adaptive cruise control. With the car and dial in white, the system is active along with lane guidance.
Black and White
Images seen in shades of black and white are seen in the vehicle’s center information display. Here yet another manufacturer uses the lane lines simply to indicate the system is active. Another uses the image to indicate the system is active and lane lines are detected. It goes gray if lane lines are not detected. The last one, white on black, says the system is on, but no lines are detected. Only the particular manufacturer’s owner’s manual will determine what any given light indicates.
The addition of a star indicates that a particular driver’s preferences have been activated. As above, a steady black and white light may also be used to indicate that lane keeping is not ready; green indicates the system is ready and may gently turn the steering wheel if the vehicle approaches a lane marking; and is seen in yellow/amber and flashes as a lane departure warning when a lane marking has been unintentionally crossed.
In this case, the manufacturer displays the lane lines and turns one side red when the vehicle crosses the line without having used a turn signal. The steering wheel will also vibrate to further alert the driver. Both lines are shown in red here, but only one will in practice.
Lane Keeping
The light is green if the system is simply on. Most manufacturers who offer the system or systems make use of the larger Information Displays (see here) to indicate the system’s operation, and others offer a text symbol like the one to the left.
If the system is turned off, you may see one of the symbols to the left, which may include the word OFF. Note that OFF may also indicate a fault in the system, particularly when seen in yellow/amber/orange. One image even adds an arrow pointing outside the line and a star meant to indicate a collision for really no good reason.
Jaguar
Jaguar throws another wrench in the works with two more images, adding white to red and green images. The red version is seen if the vehicle crosses a lane marking without the use of the turn signal. And it leaves the lane not being crossed in white. The green version is seen if the feature is on and tracking lanes. It leaves the car in white.
Lane Change Assist
These are Lane Change Assist (LCA) indicators, part of a Highway Driving Assist system. We’re showing two colors here, but in fact the system moves through four colors depending on the circumstance. In white, the system is off. In gray, the system is on stand by. In green, it is safe to change lanes.
A yellow/orange light indicates a malfunction in the system. Lane Change Assist does not change lanes for the driver, but simply informs on whether changing lanes is safe or not. It can be used only on highways with clear lane markings, above 40 miles per hour, and only in concert with the use of the turn signals.
Lane Departure
These versions, an LDW light, blinks if the system is active and the lane markers are approached. If any of these lights remain on in yellow/amber without blinking, including another that adds inward pointing arrows below the car image, there may be a fault in the system.
The picture symbol on the right, which adds the exclamation point to the image of a car leaving a lane, is also used by some manufacturers to indicate a fault. In all cases, the vehicle is still drivable, but the system will need to be serviced by your dealer or authorized service center.
BMW, Mini, Vauxhall and Audi
This one is a real curiosity from BMW and Mini only to find Vauxhall and Audi use the same image in multiple colors. It is shown in green and, according to the company the indicator light flashes green as a warning that the vehicle is leaving the lane. The system may perform a steering intervention if necessary. No other system uses a green indicator as a warning. In white, the system is switched on, but not active. In green the system is on and active. In yellow/amber/orange the system “performs a correction”.
Audi uses the white and yellow/amber/orange versions as malfunction indicators! A message will be seen on the instrument panel with possible causes. The green version simply says the system is on and operating.
Buick, Cadillac
Buick now uses the simple lane representation in three colors. The black and white version displays when Lane Keep Assist is disabled. Green indicates the system is on and ready. It will gently turn the steering
wheel if the vehicle approaches a detected lane marking. The yellow/amber/orange version displays and will flash as a departure alert warning when a lane marking has been unintentionally crossed.
With the use of LKAS acronym, the yellow/amber/orange light comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is turned on. If the light stays on, it also indicates a problem with the system. The light comes on in white when the system is active and operating.
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The information on this website is provided for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 30+ years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s, ME: MS, RPI, NY