Give way to oncoming vehicles sign: what it means
This sign means oncoming traffic has priority. Where the road or bridge is too narrow for two vehicles, you must give way to vehicles coming the other way.
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What it means
Know your traffic signs: where a road or bridge is very narrow, priority must be given to traffic from the other direction, and there will usually be a give way line showing where to wait.
Your direction is the small red arrow. The large black arrow is the traffic that has priority.
Where you see it
At narrow bridges and other narrow lengths of road. Drivers coming the other way may see the matching blue sign that gives them priority.
A common mistake
Thinking that whoever gets there first goes first. With this sign you wait for oncoming traffic, even if you arrive first.
Quick quiz
On this sign, which arrow shows your direction of travel?
- The small red arrow
- The large black arrow
- Neither arrow
Show answer
A. The small red arrow. The red arrow is the direction that must give way, which is yours. Source: The Highway Code, rule 109, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Compare with
Priority over oncoming vehicles signYou go first through the narrow part, with care.
Give way signLet traffic on the major road go first.
Two-way traffic signTraffic ahead goes in both directions.
Next in regulatory signs: No waiting sign. See all regulatory signs or the full road signs list.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
- The Highway Code, rule 109, GOV.UK
- Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.