# Traffic Signs Manual/Chapter 3/2008/3

GENERAL
3.1 The STOP sign to diagram 601.1 and the GIVE WAY sign to diagram 602 impose mandatory requirements on drivers entering a major road or crossing a railway or tramway. When the signs are to be installed in conjunction with railway level crossings or tramway crossings, the railway or tramway infrastructure manager and Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate (a directorate of the Office of Rail Regulation) should be consulted beforehand.
3.2 STOP and GIVE WAY signs are subject to section 36 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (see regulation 10). Where a driver fails to comply, the offence is one of failing to obey a traffic sign, not failing to comply with a traffic regulation order. Orders are not therefore required to install these signs. However, STOP signs may be erected only at sites approved in writing by the Secretary of State (direction 6).
3.3 It is expected that most junctions that would satisfy the criteria for STOP signs have already been approved. New junctions should not be constructed with very poor visibility, so new approvals for STOP signs should be exceptional.
3.4 The Directions prohibit the use of STOP or GIVE WAY signs on all approaches to a junction, as this would cause uncertainty as to which vehicles had priority.
3.5 Advance warning of the requirement to stop or give way may be given using the sign to diagram 501 together with the plate to diagram 502 or 503 as appropriate (see Chapter 4, para 2.1).
3.6 The plate to diagram 608 (Dual carriageway) may be mounted below the STOP or GIVE WAY sign on the minor road approaching a dual carriageway where there is a gap in the central reservation. This warns drivers from the minor road that, if turning right, they should turn after the central reservation.
STOP SIGNS
601.1 Junction controlled by a STOP sign
May be used only in conjunction with the markings to diagrams 1002.1 and 1022, and may be used with diagram 608 or 783
608 Dual carriageway
3.7 Where a STOP sign (diagram 601.1) has been provided, regulation 16 requires that:
(i) every vehicle shall stop before crossing the transverse line shown in diagram 1002.1; and
(ii) no vehicle shall cross that line so as to be likely to endanger the driver of or any passenger in any other vehicle or to cause that driver to change the speed or course of his vehicle in order to avoid an accident.
Similar requirements apply at railway and tramway crossings where a STOP sign has been provided (see paras 3.18 and 3.20).
3.8 STOP signs, other than at junctions with tramways, will be approved only where visibility is so restricted that it is essential for drivers to stop before entering the major road. The sign will be well respected only if drivers can see the need for it. The possibility of making a visibility improvement at a junction should always be investigated before considering a STOP sign. Restriction of visibility caused, for example, by a hedge that can be reduced in height or removed will not normally justify a STOP sign, particularly as highway authorities have powers under section 79 of the Highways Act 1980 to remove obstructions to visibility at junctions.
​3.9 Visibility distances below which a STOP sign might be considered are specified in table 3-1. Other factors which should be taken into account include traffic volumes on both the major and minor roads, gradient of the minor road, accident record, poor alignment or any other factors which cause unusual difficulty. It does not automatically follow that STOP signs will always be approved at sites where the criteria are met. If any changes take place at a junction that already has a STOP sign, it will be necessary to check if the criteria are still met, and if not the junction should be assessed for the appropriate level of signing (see para 3.13).
Table 3-1 Visibility criteria for STOP sign :
| 85th percentile speed of private cars on major road | Visibility distance along major road |
| (mph) | (m) |
| 20 | 15 |
| 30 | 30 |
| 40 | 45 |
| 50 | 70 |
| 60 | 90 |
| 70 | 120 |
3.10 The visibility distance in table 3-1 is measured along the nearer edge of the major road from a point 1.05 m above the centre line of the minor road (representing the driver's eye position). The distances in the table should be interpolated for intermediate speeds (e.g. 37.5 m for a speed of 35 mph). Where the minor road is lightly trafficked, this visibility should be available from a point 3 m back from the edge of the major road carriageway along the centre line of the minor road. This distance should be increased to 4.5 m where the minor road has some through-traffic value. Visibility from the side road along the major road is important to the left as well as to the right, especially where there is the likelihood of vehicles from the left overtaking or the major road is one way from left to right.
3.11 The appropriate size for the STOP sign is indicated in table 3-2. The smaller sizes shown in brackets may be used where an advance warning sign is provided (see para 3.5). The 85th percentile speed should be measured at a point prior to traffic slowing down for the junction.
Table 3-2 Size of STOP sign :
| 85th percentile speed of private cars approaching on minor road | Size of STOP sign |
| (mph) | (mm) |
| Up to 30 | 750 |
| 31 to 40 | 900 (750) |
| 41 to 50 | 1200 (900) |
| Over 50 | 1200 |
GIVE WAY SIGNS
3.12 Where there is a GIVE WAY sign (diagram 602), regulation 16 requires that:
   No vehicle shall cross the transverse line shown in diagram 1003 nearer to the major road at the side of which that line is placed, or if that line is not clearly visible, enter that major road, so as to be likely to endanger the driver of or any passenger in any other vehicle or to cause that driver to change the speed or course of his vehicle in order to avoid an accident.
When the sign is used in combination with diagram 778 or 778.1 (see paras 3.19 and 3.20), the requirement is for vehicles to give way to railway vehicles or tramcars.
3.13 The GIVE WAY sign, together with its associated road markings (see para 3.15), should be used as follows:
(i) in rural areas at all junctions of public roads with trunk and principal roads
(ii) in urban areas generally at junctions of public roads with trunk and principal roads unless the minor road is a residential or local street
(iii) at other junctions where the traffic authority considers it desirable on account of traffic speeds or volumes
(iv) at rural crossroads where both roads are minor in nature and visibility of the junction is poor (e.g. hidden dip, blind summit, obscured by hedges, narrow verges etc.)
​(v) exceptionally at roundabouts where there is a signalled crossing on the immediate approach and the associated green aspect might give the impression that a vehicle has precedence entering the roundabout
(vi) exceptionally at roundabouts where the normal give way rule is reversed (see para 3.17)
(vii) in exceptional cases at mini-roundabouts where it is not possible to provide deflection (see para 4.23)
(viii) with the “Dual carriageway” plate to diagram 608 on the approach to a dual carriageway road with a gap in the central reservation (see para 3.6).
The use of a GIVE WAY sign should also be considered at the following locations:
(ix) non-signalled approaches to a partially-signalled roundabout or gyratory system
(x) where the priority route through the junction is not clear (e.g. priority route turns right or left at the junction)
(xi) at the end of an unsignalled left turn filter lane at a signalled junction.
Where a sign to diagram 602 is not justified, carriageway markings alone should be provided in accordance with Chapter 5 para 3.14. The sign is not used in conjuction with priority signs (see para 4.33).
602 Junction controller by a GIVE WAY sign
May be used only in conjunction with the markings to diagrams 1003 and 1023 and may be used with diagram 608, 611.1, 774, 778 or 778.1
Table 3-3 Size of GIVE WAY sign :
| 85th percentile speed of private cars approaching on minor road |
| Size of GIVE WAY sign |
| (mph) | (mm) |
| Up to 30 | 600 |
| 31 to 40 | 750 (600) |
| 41 to 50 | 900 (750) |
| 51 to 60 | 1200 (900) |
| Over 60 | 1200 (1500) |
3.14 The appropriate size for the GIVE WAY sign is indicated in table 3-3. The smaller sizes shown in brackets may be used where an advance warning sign is provided (see para 3.5). The larger size for approach speeds over 60 mph might be helpful where there is a history of failure to give way accidents. The 85th percentile speed should be measured at a point prior to traffic slowing down for the junction.
ROAD MARKINGS
3.15 The STOP and GIVE WAY signs must always be accompanied by their associated road markings (diagrams 1002.1 and 1022, and 1003 and 1023 respectively). These markings are detailed in Chapter 5 (paras 3.11 to 3.23 and figures 3-1 and 3-2). Reference should be made to Chapter 8 for guidance on the use of warning signs when road works result in the temporary absence of markings.
SITING OF STOP AND GIVE WAY SIGNS
3.16 The signs should be sited as close as possible to their corresponding marking, but not in such a position as to impair visibility along the major road. Normally they will be about 1.5 m before the marking (see figure 3-1). If conditions prevent a sign from being easily seen, it should be placed at a greater distance. The STOP sign should be no more than 6 m from the line, and the GIVE WAY sign no more than 12 m.
3.17 The signs should be sited on the left hand side of the road. For greater emphasis, they may be duplicated on the right hand side. This should be standard practice on wide one-way roads. If there is ​a refuge in the mouth of the minor road and there are two or more lanes at the Stop or Give Way line, consideration should be given to duplicating the sign on the refuge. The GIVE WAY sign should be duplicated at roundabouts where drivers are required to give way to traffic entering the junction (see Chapter 5, figure 8-6).
Figure 3.1 Siting of STOP and GIVE WAY signs.
783 Drivers of long low vehicles phone before crossing
774 Location of railway or tramway crossing without gate or barrier
778 Open railway crossing without light signals
778.1 Open tramway crossing without light signals
RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY CROSSINGS
3.18 STOP signs are placed at user-worked railway level crossings; these are normally crossings involving public footways or bridleways, or private roads. In these circumstances, the STOP sign is used in combination with the supplementary plate to diagram 783 ("DRIVERS OF LONG LOW VEHICLES phone before crossing” or its "LARGE OR SLOW" variant).
3.19 At open railway level crossings and tramway crossings (i.e. those with no barriers and without signals) the GIVE WAY sign is used in combination with diagrams 774 and 778 or 774 and 778.1 as appropriate. Diagram 774 is mounted uppermost, with the plate to diagram 778 or 778.1 below diagram 602.
​3.20 At priority junctions, roads that have tramways, either segregated or within the carriageway, should always be treated as the major road. Where the minor road would normally be provided with an upright GIVE WAY sign as well as the Give Way road markings (see para 3.15), this should be replaced with a STOP sign and transverse Stop line, whether or not the visibility criteria in table 3-1 are met. The STOP sign should be used with a supplementary plate to diagram 778.1. This will require a special direction in addition to the Department's approval for the STOP sign, as this sign combination is not prescribed by the Regulations. At all other junctions with a road carrying a tramway, the minor road should have the transverse Give Way line, the triangular marking and a GIVE WAY sign.
3.21 Junctions with heavy traffic flows or restricted visibility (including those which would normally be signed with the STOP sign) should be controlled by traffic signals where there is a tramway.
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 version was transcribed in May 2015, from a 2008 impression.
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