The Yield Sign: Slow Down, Give Way, Stop if Needed
A yield sign means you must slow down and be ready to stop, and let vehicles and pedestrians on the other road or in the crosswalk go first. If the way is clear you may continue without stopping; if not, you stop and wait for a safe gap. It is the only downward-pointing triangle among US road signs.
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Yield sign quiz: 3 test-style questions
- A yield sign means you must: Always come to a complete stop / Slow down and let traffic and pedestrians with the right-of-way go first / Speed up to merge ahead of other cars / Stop only if a police officer is present. Answer: Slow down and let traffic and pedestrians with the right-of-way go first. Yielding means slowing down, stopping if necessary, and letting other road users go first. You do not have to stop when the way is clear.
- What is the shape of the yield sign? Octagon / Diamond / Pennant / Triangle pointing down. Answer: Triangle pointing down. The yield sign is the only downward-pointing triangle, red and white, with the word YIELD.
- You are entering a roundabout with a yield sign. A car is already circulating toward you. You should: Wait for a safe gap; the circulating car has the right-of-way / Enter first because you are on the right / Honk and enter / Stop inside the roundabout. Answer: Wait for a safe gap; the circulating car has the right-of-way. Traffic already in the roundabout has the right-of-way. Yield to it and to pedestrians, then enter when there is a safe gap.
What the yield sign means
The yield sign (MUTCD R1-2) is a regulatory sign. It assigns the right-of-way: drivers facing it must let traffic on the intersecting road, and pedestrians in the crosswalk, go first. Unlike a stop sign, it does not require you to stop every time. You slow down to a speed that lets you stop safely, and you stop only if another road user is close enough that you would interfere with them.
It is a white triangle with a wide red border, pointing down, with the word YIELD in red. No other sign has this shape, so you can recognize it from far away or from behind. Some older signs or textbooks call it the "give way" sign, but in the United States the official legend is YIELD.
To yield means the other driver should not have to brake or swerve because of you. If you pull out and someone must slow down hard, you did not yield, even if you never stopped.
What to do at a yield sign
- Slow down as you approach and scan the road you are entering, including the crosswalk.
- Judge the gap. If no vehicle or pedestrian is close, continue at a safe speed without stopping.
- Stop if needed at the yield line (a row of white triangles called "shark's teeth"), or before the crosswalk, or before entering the road.
- Wait for a safe gap, then go. Do not force other drivers to slow down.
- On a ramp or merge, match your speed to traffic if possible, but you are still the one who must yield.
Common mistakes and test traps
- "Yield means stop." False: you stop only when traffic or pedestrians require it. A test answer saying you must always stop is wrong.
- "Yield means I can go if I am fast enough." Also false. Speeding up to cut in front of traffic is failing to yield.
- Forgetting pedestrians. The yield sign covers people in the crosswalk, not only cars.
- Roundabouts. Every entry has a yield sign: circulating traffic goes first.
- Shark's teeth. The white triangles across your lane mark where to stop if you must yield; they point toward you.
Where you see yield signs
Yield signs are used where drivers usually can enter without stopping but must give way: at the entrance of roundabouts, at freeway on-ramps without an acceleration lane, at channelized right-turn lanes ("slip lanes") and at minor intersections with good visibility. They can also sit under a railroad crossbuck, where they mean yield to trains.
A related family of signs, such as YIELD HERE TO PEDESTRIANS, tells you where to stop for people crossing at a midblock crosswalk. When the yield sign is hard to see, a YIELD AHEAD warning sign may appear first.
Related signs to know
Compare it with the stop sign, which always requires a full stop, and with the merge sign, a yellow warning that two lanes join. The right-of-way guide explains who goes first in every situation, and the road signs hub groups all signs by shape and color.
Yield sign FAQ
Do you have to stop at a yield sign?
Only if traffic or pedestrians make it necessary. If the road is clear, you may continue at a safe, reduced speed.
Who has the right-of-way at a yield sign?
Traffic on the road you are entering and pedestrians in the crosswalk. The driver facing the yield sign must give way.
What color is the yield sign?
Red and white: a white triangle with a red border and red letters. Red is used for signs that require you to stop or yield, or that prohibit something.
What are the white triangles painted on the road?
They form a yield line (sometimes called shark's teeth). If you must yield, stop behind it. The triangles point toward approaching drivers.
Can you get a ticket at a yield sign?
Yes. Failing to yield the right-of-way is a moving violation in every state, and it is a common cause of crashes at ramps and roundabouts.
Official sources
- FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
- IIHS — Roundabouts
- NHTSA — Pedestrian safety