Priority over oncoming vehicles sign: what it means

Priority over oncoming vehicles sign: a blue rectangle with a large white arrow pointing up and a small red arrow pointing down
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

This blue sign means traffic in your direction has priority over vehicles coming the other way through the narrow section ahead. Still go carefully.

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What it means

It is the partner of the red-ringed give way to oncoming vehicles sign. Here the large white arrow is your direction and the small red arrow is the traffic that must give way. The Highway Code lists it among the information signs, which are all rectangular.

Priority is not a reason to force your way through. If a vehicle is already coming through the narrow part, let it clear first.

Where you see it

At narrow bridges and other narrow lengths of road where traffic from one direction has priority.

A common mistake

Driving into the narrow part while an oncoming vehicle is already in it, just because the sign gives you priority.

Quick quiz

You see this blue sign before a narrow bridge, but a car is already crossing towards you. What should you do?

  1. Drive on, you have priority
  2. Wait for it to clear
  3. Flash your headlights
Show answer

B. Wait for it to clear. Having priority does not mean forcing your way in; let a vehicle already on the bridge clear it. Source: The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in information signs: No through road sign. See all information signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  2. Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK
  3. 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.