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Priority at the next junctionFrance

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of France. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs
Traffic rules
France

54. Priority at the next junction

Priority at the next junction means that drivers travelling on a particular road have priority over traffic entering from intersecting roads at the next junction. The priority arrangement is normally indicated by signs facing both the priority traffic and the traffic that must give way.

Unlike a continuing priority road, this priority applies only at the indicated intersection. Drivers must still approach cautiously and obey traffic lights, authorised officers, crossings, turning rules and other applicable signs.

Priority at the next junction
Priority-at-the-next-junction sign on Route de Vonnas. (Saint-Cyr-sur-Menthon, Ain, France)
Wikimedia.org • Chabe01 • CC BY-SA
How is priority at the next junction determined in France?

The French AB2 sign indicates priority at the next junction. The AB6 sign identifies a continuing priority road. Read any supplementary junction-layout panel and obey the controls actually present; the two signs have different scopes.

🔗 equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • French road-sign order, Article 5-8, signs EB10 and EB20 — Order AB2 versus AB6; current published IISR3 next-intersection and priority-road regimes.

🔗 equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Cerema current IISR part 3 consolidation

Priority at the junction. Priority at the junction.

English • Traffic sign AB2 • Junction with a road whose users must give way, where sign AB 6 cannot be used.

Français • Panneau AB2 • Intersection avec une route dont les usagers doivent céder le passage dans le cas où un panneau AB 6 ne peut être utilisé.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 3.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex 45 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Source revision 2013-07-05. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Start of a priority road. Start of a priority road.

English • Traffic sign AB6 • Indication that a road has priority.

Français • Panneau AB6 • Indication du caractère prioritaire d'une route.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Equipementsdelaroute.cerema.fr • Arrêté du 24 novembre 1967

© Roulex 45 et les contributeurs Wikimedia • CC BY-SA 3.0 • SVG original non modifié.

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Roulex 45 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Source revision 2007-09-18. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Does priority at one junction automatically continue along the entire road in France?

No. One-junction priority and continuing priority-road status are distinct concepts. Check the local signs at each following junction, including any end-of-priority marker, traffic signal or new Give Way or Stop sign.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R411-25, R415-5–7; 1967 order AB2/AB6/AB7 and M7

May a driver with priority ignore pedestrians or another safety obligation at the next junction in France?

No. Junction priority does not cancel duties towards pedestrians, traffic signals, emergency vehicles or other road users where the law gives them precedence. Approach at a speed allowing you to stop safely.

🔗 legifrance.gouv.fr • French Road Code — R411-25, R415-5–7; 1967 order AB2/AB6/AB7 and M7

1 France 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Advisory speed 9 Footpath 10 Bike path 11 Pedestrian warning 12 Tunnel 13 Bridge 14 Cycling street 15 Pedestrian zone 16 Speed bump 17 Toll road 18 Customs 19 One-way traffic 20 Quay 21 Slope 22 Bus lane 23 Bus stop 24 Dead end 25 Stop sign 26 Give way 27 Roundabout 28 Priority road 29 Road narrowing 30 Priority over oncoming traffic 31 Give way to oncoming traffic 32 Pedestrian crossing 33 Railway crossing 34 Mandatory direction 35 Turn prohibition 36 School area 37 Overtaking 38 Crossing animals 39 Slippery road 40 Rockfall 41 Aircraft 42 Curve 43 Chevron 44 Wrong-way driving 45 Roadworks 46 Crosswind 47 Height limit 48 Width limit 49 Length limit 50 Weight limit 51 Radar speed sign 52 Selective barriers 53 Low-emission zone 54 Priority at the next junction 55 Traffic lights 56 Traffic lights warning 57 Pedestrian lights 58 Road markings 59 Junction layout 60 Bike box 61 Speed feedback 62 Driving licence 63 Location marker 64 Road number 65 Countdown markers 66 Public toilet 67 Rest area 68 Traffic mirror 69 Emergency telephone 70 International border 71 Cycling route 72 End of restriction 73 Parking 74 No parking 75 No stopping 76 Parallel parking 77 Alternate-side parking 78 Parking meter 79 Parking disc 80 Disabled parking 81 Traffic management 82 Merging 83 Reversing 84 U-turn 85 Carpool 86 Traffic jam 87 Uncontrolled crossroad 88 Road surface 89 Ring road 90 Exit 91 Information point 92 Horse riding 93 Provisional licence 94 Hazardous cargo 95 Emergency exit 96 Runaway truck ramp 97 Radio service 98 Oversize load 99 Lane 100 Tyre inflation station ...