Yellow box junction: what it means

Yellow box junction diagram: yellow criss-cross lines filling a square in the middle of a crossroads
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

A yellow box junction means you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. If you are turning right, you may wait in it while oncoming traffic stops you.

Take the free road signs quiz

Last checked against the sources: · Report a mistake

What it means

Rule 174: you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. However, you may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.

At signalled roundabouts you must not enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping.

Where you see it

At junctions where stationary traffic would be likely to block the junction (Know your traffic signs), often at traffic lights.

A common mistake

Going in because the light is green. A green light does not clear a blocked exit, so wait behind the box until you can get across.

Quick quiz

Your light is green, but a queue fills the road beyond the yellow box. You want to go straight on. What should you do?

  1. Enter and wait in the box
  2. Wait until your exit is clear
  3. Follow the car in front closely
Show answer

B. Wait until your exit is clear. Rule 174: you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. The waiting exception is only for turning right. Source: The Highway Code, rule 174, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: road markings, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: road markings, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in road markings: Zigzag lines. See all road markings or the full road signs list.

Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.

Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule 174, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code: road markings, GOV.UK
  3. Know your traffic signs: road markings, 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.