Yield Sign

Updated July 9, 2026

Yield · MUTCD R1-2 · Regulatory sign

What the Yield sign means

The downward-pointing red-and-white triangle tells you to give the right-of-way. Slow down as you approach, be ready to stop, and let pedestrians and vehicles already on the road you are joining go first. You do not have to stop if the way is clear, but you must be prepared to. Yield signs appear at freeway on-ramps, roundabout entrances, merge points, and minor intersections where traffic on the crossing road has priority. Entering without yielding — forcing others to brake for you — is a failure to yield and a common cause of merge collisions.

What to do when you see it

Slow down, be ready to stop, and let cross traffic and pedestrians go first; enter only when there is a safe gap.

On the CA permit test

Yield means give the right-of-way and stop only if needed — not a guaranteed full stop.

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