Priority signsSouth Africa

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of South Africa. 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

Priority signs

A priority sign is a traffic sign that indicates the order in which vehicles shall pass intersection points. Vehicles often come into conflict with other vehicles and pedestrians because their intended courses of travel intersect, and thus interfere with each other's routes. The general principle that establishes who has the right to go first is called 'right of way' or 'priority'. It establishes who has the right to use the conflicting part of the road and who has to wait until the other does so. The vehicle that does not need to wait is said to 'have the right of way' or to 'have priority.'

Warning for merging traffic from the left.

Warning for merging traffic from the right.

Road narrowing, oncoming drivers have to give way.

What should I know about priority signs in South Africa?

STOP and YIELD are regulatory control signs. STOP adds the duty to stop completely before proceeding safely.

🔗 transport.gov.za • South Africa, Department of Transport, SARTSM — priority-signs

Must you always stop when giving way in South Africa?

No. A give-way control requires stopping when necessary to yield or obtain a safe view. A stop sign requires a complete stop even if the road appears empty.

🔗 transport.gov.za • South Africa, Department of Transport, SARTSM — priority-signs

1. Stop and give way

This traffic sign means stop and give way. You must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection and give way to traffic that has priority. Proceed only when it is safe.

English • R1 • Stop. Stop completely at the stop line, or before entering the junction if there is no line. Yield to traffic with right of way before proceeding.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 32 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-18. Wikimedia original unmodified.

2. Give way

This traffic sign means give way. Slow down and give way to traffic that has priority. Stop if necessary and proceed only when it is safe.

English • R2 • Yield. Yield right of way to traffic on the intersecting road. Stop if necessary before proceeding safely.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 37 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-04-20. Wikimedia original unmodified.

3. Give way ahead

This traffic sign indicates give way ahead. A give-way requirement applies at the location ahead. Reduce speed in good time and be prepared to stop if necessary.

English • W303 • Yield ahead. A yield-controlled junction is ahead.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 5 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-31. Wikimedia original unmodified.

4. Stop and give way ahead

This traffic sign indicates stop and give way ahead. A stop sign applies at the location ahead. Reduce speed in good time and be prepared to come to a complete stop.

English • W302 • Stop ahead. A stop-controlled junction is ahead.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 5 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-31. Wikimedia original unmodified.

5. Warning for an uncontrolled crossroad

This traffic sign indicates a warning for an uncontrolled crossroad. An intersection without traffic signals or signs assigning priority lies ahead. Reduce speed, watch for traffic approaching from other directions and follow the applicable local priority rules.

English • W101 • Crossroad. A crossroad is ahead. This plain cross symbol does not itself assign priority.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

6. Crossroad ahead, give way

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a crossroad, give way. It alerts drivers that they are approaching an intersection where they must give way to traffic on the main road. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop if needed.

English • W103 • Priority crossroad on a non-priority road. You are approaching a crossroad with a priority road. The thick horizontal bar represents the priority road.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

7. Warning for a side road from the left

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a side road from the left. A side road joins the road ahead from the left at an uncontrolled junction. Reduce speed, watch for traffic entering from the side road and follow the applicable default priority rules.

English • W107 • Side road from the left. A side road joins from the left ahead. This warning does not itself assign priority; follow the applicable signs and local rules.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org • Wikimedia Commons original • Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3 · W107 · PDF p. 15 (May 2012).

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

8. Warning for merging traffic from the left

This traffic sign indicates a warning for merging traffic from the left. Traffic travelling in the same general direction may join your traffic stream from the left. Stay alert for entering vehicles and follow the applicable priority signs and local rules.

English • W112 • Merging traffic from the left. Traffic may join from the left at an acute angle ahead. Watch for entering vehicles and follow the applicable priority signs and local rules.

Sources

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

9. Warning for a side road from the right

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a side road from the right. A side road joins the road ahead from the right at an uncontrolled junction. Reduce speed, watch for traffic entering from the side road and follow the applicable default priority rules.

English • W108 • Side road from the right. A side road joins from the right ahead. This warning does not itself assign priority; follow the applicable signs and local rules.

Sources

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

10. Warning for merging traffic from the right

This traffic sign indicates a warning for merging traffic from the right. Traffic travelling in the same general direction may join your traffic stream from the right. Stay alert for entering vehicles and follow the applicable priority signs and local rules.

English • W114 • Merging traffic from the right. Traffic may join from the right at an acute angle ahead. Watch for entering vehicles and follow the applicable priority signs and local rules.

Sources

Image via Commons.wikimedia.org
Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Source revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

11. Warning for a roundabout

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a roundabout. A roundabout lies ahead. Reduce speed and follow the applicable priority signs, traffic signals and local roundabout rules when approaching and entering it.

English • W201 • Traffic circle ahead. A traffic circle is ahead. Reduce speed and follow the controls at the circle.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 4 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-28. Wikimedia original unmodified.

12. Priority at the junction

This traffic sign indicates that you have priority at the next intersection. Side roads join from the left and right, and traffic entering from those side roads must give way.

English • W102 • Crossroad on a priority road. A crossroad is ahead on the priority road you are following. The thicker vertical line represents your road.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

13. Warning for a staggered junction

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a staggered junction. Side roads join the main road at different points rather than directly opposite each other. Reduce speed and watch carefully for vehicles entering, leaving or crossing the main road.

English • W109 • Staggered junctions: right then left. Side roads join first from the right and then from the left.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

14. Warning for a staggered junction

English • W110 • Staggered junctions: left then right. Side roads join first from the left and then from the right.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

15. Warning for an uncontrolled T-junction

This traffic sign indicates a warning for an uncontrolled T-junction. The road ends at an intersection where no traffic signs or signals assign priority. Reduce speed and follow the applicable default priority rules.

English • W104 • T-junction. The road ends at a T-junction ahead.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

16. Warning for an uncontrolled Y-junction

This traffic sign indicates a warning for an uncontrolled Y-junction. The road divides or meets another road at a Y-shaped intersection where no signs or signals assign priority. Reduce speed and follow the applicable default priority rules.

English • W115 • Y-junction. A Y-shaped junction is ahead.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 3, PDF p. 3 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-27. Wikimedia original unmodified.

17. Mandatory roundabout direction

This traffic sign indicates the mandatory direction around a roundabout. Traffic must circulate in the direction shown by the arrows. The sign does not itself determine priority; follow the applicable priority signs, traffic signals and local rules.

English • R137 • Roundabout. Turn left into the roundabout and circulate clockwise. Yield to traffic approaching from the right within the roundabout when it is close enough to present a danger.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 2, PDF p. 62 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2017-06-04. Wikimedia original unmodified.

18. Start of a priority road

This traffic sign indicates the start of a priority road. Drivers on the priority road normally have priority over traffic entering from side roads until the priority road ends, unless traffic lights, other signs or applicable traffic rules indicate otherwise.

English • IN7 • Right of way at the junction ahead. Traffic on the road you are following has right of way at the junction ahead. This sign is not a blanket priority declaration for every subsequent junction.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Transport.gov.za • Department of Transport · SADC RTSM Vol. 1, chapter 5, PDF p. 12 (May 2012)

SVG source: Southern African Development Community • Public domain • Original revision 2019-07-25. Wikimedia original unmodified.

19. Road narrowing, oncoming drivers have to give way

This traffic sign indicates a road narrowing where oncoming drivers have to give way.