# Traffic Signs Manual/Chapter 5/2009/3

GENERAL
3.1 The legal requirements imposed on drivers by the STOP sign and its associated marking are defined in regulation 16. The requirements imposed by the Give Way marking are defined in regulation 25.
3.2 The Stop line shown in figure 3-1 and the Give Way line shown in figure 3-2 are normally positioned so that the edge of the marking nearest to the major road continues the line of the edge of that road, even when the minor road enters at an angle other than 90°. See para 3.21 for guidance on positioning the Give Way line where a 1 m hard strip is provided.
3.3 On two-way minor roads, the Stop or Give Way line normally extends to the centre of the carriageway, the remaining width being marked with diagram 1009 indicating the edge of the major road. Where this would result in Stop or Give Way lines less than 2.75 m long, these should be extended across the full width of the minor road carriageway, and the centre line omitted. The diagram 1009 edge marking is not used at traffic signals.
3.4 Where a one-way street enters a major road, the Give Way or Stop marking is always carried across the whole width of the minor road.
3.5 The transverse markings should be accompanied by longitudinal warning lines, indicating the centreline or lane division, extending from the junction in accordance with the standards set out in para 4.16 for approach warning lines.
3.6 The Directions prohibit the use of STOP signs and markings or Give Way lines on all legs of a junction, as this would cause uncertainty as to which vehicles had priority (directions 30 and 34(1)(a)).
TRAFFIC SIGNAL STOP LINE
3.7 The marking (diagram 1001) consists of a single continuous line 200 mm or 300 mm in width and indicates the position beyond which a driver must not proceed when required to stop by light signals. The 200 mm width is generally for use in urban areas. The 300 mm width should be used in rural areas, or where the 85th percentile speed exceeds 35 mph. The greater width may also be used in urban areas at difficult locations, or where heavy traffic results in rapid erosion of the marking.
3.8 The Stop line will normally be at right angles to the centre line of the road to which it applies. It should be at least 1.5 m in advance of the near side primary signal, although 2.5 m is preferable (see para 9.4). Site conditions may necessitate a greater distance (see below). Recommended layouts are shown in figures 9-1 and 9-2.
3.9 It may be necessary to set back the Stop line to allow for positioning of the primary traffic signal and any pedestrian crossing facility. At some junctions it is necessary to set it back a further distance to permit turning movements into that road (see para 9.5). This is likely to reduce the capacity of the junction; an alternative might be to prohibit a turning movement.
3.10 For details of the stop line used at level crossings and at tramways at traffic signal junctions respectively, see paras 19.3 and 18.12. The advanced stop line for cycles (diagram 1001.2) is dealt with in paras 16.20 to 16.22.
JUNCTION STOP LINE
3.11 The marking (diagram 1002.1) consists of a single continuous line 400 mm wide. It is used only at junctions controlled by STOP signs (diagram 601.1) and must not be used with a GIVE WAY sign (see also paras 3.2 to 3.6). The STOP sign, Stop line and the worded STOP marking (diagram 1022) must always be used in conjunction with each other (see figure 3-1). Two sizes for the word STOP are prescribed, as shown in table 3-1.
3.12 The word STOP is normally located so that the top edge of the legend is not more than 2.75 m nor less than 2.1 m from the nearest part of the Stop line. Exceptionally this may be increased to a maximum of 15 m, e.g. where the vertical curvature or a sharp bend prevents it being seen from a distance.
3.13 Where advance warning of the STOP sign is required, this is provided by the sign to diagram 501 and its associated distance plate (diagram 502) which may be accompanied by the worded marking SLOW (diagram 1024) on the carriageway. Table 2-1 in Chapter 4 indicates where advance signing is appropriate.
Table 3-1 :
| 85 percentile speed(mph) | Size of STOP sign(mm) | Size of STOP road marking(mm) |
| Up to 30 | 750 | 1600 |
| 31 to 40 | 750 (900) | 1600 (2800) |
| 41 to 50 | 900 (1200) | 2800 |
| Over 50 | 1200 | 2800 |
NOTE: Alternative sizes are shown in brackets. The alternatives should be used where they are required by site conditions or where the accident record calls for greater emphasis.
GIVE WAY MARKINGS
3.14 The Give Way marking to diagram 1003 is used at major / minor road junctions. It may be accompanied by the approach triangle (diagram1023) and the upright sign to diagram 602, but in the following combinations only:
(i) Give Way marking alone
(ii) Give Way marking with approach triangle
(iii) Give Way marking with approach triangle and GIVE WAY sign.
Advance warning of the GIVE WAY using diagrams 501 and 503 (in accordance with the guidance in table 2-1 in Chapter 4) may be provided with (iii), i.e. only when the upright GIVE WAY sign is installed at the junction. In all cases, the worded SLOW road marking may be used in advance of the junction.
3.15 With the exceptions mentioned in para 3.22, the Give Way marking is intended for use at all junctions other than those which are controlled by ​STOP signs or by traffic signals (except for movements not controlled by those signals). It is not generally used at private accesses, or on minor estate roads where traffic speeds and flows are low and visibility is good.
3.16 The prescribed marking (diagram 1003) for major / minor junctions consists of two broken lines laid side by side, each comprising 600 mm marks and 300 mm gaps. The lines are 200 mm wide and are spaced 300 mm apart (see figure 3-2). Subject to the following, the marking is laid at the mouth of the minor road at a junction (see also paras 3.2 to 3.6).
3.17 The triangular marking (diagram 1023) may be used only when a transverse Give Way line to diagram 1003 is provided (see para 3.14). When the junction is with a heavily trafficked route, or the presence of the major road is not obvious, e.g. at a crossroads, the marking should be accompanied by the upright GIVE WAY sign to diagram 602. The upright sign should also be used in rural areas at all junctions of public roads with primary routes, and in urban areas at junctions with primary routes unless the minor road is a residential or local street.
3.18 Diagram 1023 is normally located with its leading edge between 2100 mm and 2750 mm from the transverse marking (see figure 3-2). This distance may be increased to a maximum of 15 m if the vertical sign has to be sited further from the junction in order to ensure adequate visibility (see Chapter 3). The triangle should be positioned approximately in the centre of the traffic lane. Where the approach to the junction comprises more than one lane, the marking should be provided in each lane.
3.19 Alternative dimensions for diagrams 1003 and 1023 are prescribed for use with cycle tracks (see para 16.3).
3.20 The route carrying the highest traffic flow should normally be given priority. Exceptionally, conditions at certain junctions might be such that it would be preferable to treat a road of greater traffic importance as the minor road when allocating priority. For example, at a square crossroads junction, stopping vehicles on a steep downhill grade might result in overrun type accidents. It might also be beneficial to give a less heavily trafficked road priority as a way of overcoming poor visibility to the right.
​3.21 On roads where a 1 m hard strip is provided, demarcated with the edge of carriageway marking to diagram 1012.1 or 1012.3, the Give Way marking should be aligned with the back of the hard strip and not with the edge line (see figure 3-3).
3.22 Diagram 1003 should not be used on highspeed dual carriageway roads where traffic either joins from a slip road (at a grade separated junction) or there is a merging taper. At such sites the marking to diagram 1010 should be used (see figure 3-4).
​3.23 Where a side road joins either a high speed single carriageway road or a dual carriageway road with a gap in the central reservation, the marking to diagram 1003 should be used.
PRIORITY TRAFFIC SITES
3.24 Where the width of the road is such that traffic from one direction is given priority over that from the other using diagrams 615 and 811, the Give Way marking to diagram 1003 may be used with diagram 615 to indicate the place at which vehicles should wait. The marking to diagram 1023 may also be provided, but not the vertical sign to diagram 602, which is prescribed for use only at junctions or level crossings (regulation 16). A longitudinal warning line to diagram 1004 or 1004.1 should be used on the approach to this narrow section as far as the Give Way line, discontinued through the hazard and recommenced where an adequate two-way width is regained. Diagram 615 must be accompanied by the plate to diagram 615.1 "Give way to oncoming vehicles", and diagram 811 must be accompanied by the plate to diagram 811.1 "Priority over oncoming vehicles". Under no circumstances should traffic from both directions be required by the signs or markings to give way.
CYCLE PRIORITY
3.25 Regulation 25(6) enables the marking to diagram 1003 to be used to give priority to a cycle track crossing a road. The length of road crossed by the cycle track must consist of a road hump, which should be of the flat-topped type. The hump must extend across the full width of the carriageway, in accordance with direction 34(2). The marking to diagram 1023 should also be provided, together with a longitudinal warning line to diagram 1004 on each approach. The hump must be marked with diagram 1062 (see para 21.9). The Give Way marking should be placed on the carriageway of the road, not on any part of the hump.
This work has been mirrored or sourced from material provided on the UK Government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signs-manual, which states material is available under the terms of the Open Government License unless indicated otherwise. (Crown copyright acknowledged.)
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This document no longer necessarily represents current practice, as it relates to an earlier version of the regulations (TSGRD 2002 as amended at publication date) rather than the current TSRGD 2016 regulations. It should not be used for actual design or operational use without consulting a more recent edition.
This version was transcribed in May 2015, from a 2009 impression.
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