Yield Signs: Frequently Asked Questions

While both yield signs and stop signs are used to define the right-of-way for road users, yield signs do not require drivers to come to a complete halt but just slow down to let others pass. On the other hand, drivers must come to a complete stop at a stop sign/line or run the risk of being cited.

Yes, regulatory yield signs have to be a certain design to ensure convenient and consistent communication. The MUTCD guidelines require yield signs to be downward-pointing equilateral triangles with a wide red border. These should have the legend YIELD in red color on a white background.

Used to assign the right-of-way at the entrance to a roundabout intersection; yield signs are used to replace stop signs:

• where all potentially conflicting traffic is sufficiently visible to allow a road user to pass through the intersection or to stop in a reasonably safe manner;
• to control a merge-type movement on an entering roadway;
• on the second crossroad of a divided highway; and
• on an intersection where a special problem exists and warrants the use of a yield sign.

Please refer to MUTCD Section 2B.09 for more details.

Installed in advance of a yield sign, a yield ahead sign is used to alert road users about the need to slow down to respect the right-of-way requirement. This is done when the visibility of the yield sign is restricted.