Yield sign

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In road transport, a YIELD (Canada, Ireland, and the United States) or GIVE WAY (most current or former Commonwealth countries) traffic sign indicates that a vehicle driver must slow down and prepare to stop if necessary — usually while merging into traffic on another road — but needn't stop if the way is clear. A driver who stops has yielded his right of way to another. In contrast, a stop sign always requires a complete stop.

The first yield sign was installed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, having been devised and designed by Tulsan police officer Clinton Riggs.^[1] ^[2]^[3]. Riggs invented only the sign, not the rule, which was already in place.^{[citation needed]} Despite Oklahoma being landlocked, it is sometimes suggested^{[by whom?]} the rule was made by analagy to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.^{[citation needed]}

Particular laws regarding installation and compliance with yield or give-way signs vary by jurisdiction.

[edit] United States

In the Federal Highway Administration's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a yield sign may be warranted: ^[4]

On the approaches to a through street or highway where conditions are such that a stop is not always required.
At the second crossroad of a divided highway, where the median width at the intersection is 9 m or greater. In this case, a stop or yield sign may be installed at the entrance to the first roadway of a divided highway, and a yield sign may be installed at the entrance to the second roadway.
On a channelized turn lane that is separated from the adjacent travel lanes by an island, even if the adjacent lanes at the intersection are controlled by a highway traffic control signal or by a stop sign.
At an intersection where a special problem exists and where engineering judgment indicates the problem to be susceptible to correction by the use of the yield sign.
Facing the entering roadway for a merge-type movement if engineering judgment indicates that control is needed because acceleration geometry and/or sight distance is not adequate for merging traffic operation.

In many states traffic is allowed to turn right on a red light providing they first stop and must still then yield.

[edit] United Kingdom

By contrast, the United Kingdom's Road Traffic Act calls for GIVE WAY signs and road markings far more often at junctions (intersections) where stop signs would be used in the US. The mandatory road marking accompanying the sign consists of a large inverted triangle painted just before the place to give way.^[5]. Stop signs are relatively rare, but some foreign drivers may stop anyway because that is their usual response at a junction, If a native driver behind them, seeing the way clear, does not expect them to stop, it can result in a rear-end collision.

In the United Kingdom, a stop or give-way sign sign may be preceded by an inverted, blank, triangular sign with a subtitle plate saying, for example, "Give way 100 yards".^[6] In some other parts of Europe, the sign at the intersection itself is also blank.

Unlike intersections, Roundabouts require drivers only to yield, not to stop; in normal conditions traffic flows more freely. However, a left turn on red is not permitted; lane- and direction-specific traffic lights allow traffic to turn left while drivers wishing to go straight through the junction or turn right are held by a red light.

[edit] Gallery

Sign used in most of Europe, Canada, Israel, Chile and Brazil.	Sign used in Greece, Sweden, Serbia, Croatia, Finland, and Poland	Spanish sign with legend
Sign used in Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Singapore	Australian road sign noting to give way to all vehicles in the upcoming roundabout	Sign in Hong Kong
"Give Way" sign in Irish.	U.S. sign	Taiwanese sign in traditional Chinese
Taiwanese supplemental plate in English	Old U.S. embossed yellow sign in rural Vermont	Malaysian yield sign. Beri Laluan is Malay for give way.