Bus stop sign: what it means
The bus stop sign marks a stopping place for buses. Do not stop or park at or near it.
What does the bus stop sign mean?
Know your traffic signs lists it as “bus stop”. A broad continuous yellow line at the edge of the road at a bus stop means other vehicles are prohibited from stopping.
Rule 243 says do not stop or park at or near a bus or tram stop.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- A lane for buses, and any vehicles shown.
- A bus stop: do not stop or park here.
- No stopping at all, not even to drop off.
Show answer
B. A bus stop: do not stop or park here. It marks a stopping place for buses (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 243, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 206, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
At the roadside where buses stop for passengers, often with a shelter and road markings.
What should you do?
Do not stop in the bus stop area. Look out for people getting off a bus and crossing the road.
What do people get wrong?
Stopping “just for a minute” in a bus stop. It blocks the bus and its passengers.
Common questions
Can I drop someone off at a bus stop?
Rule 243 says do not stop or park at or near a bus stop, and a yellow line there can prohibit stopping.
What should I watch for near bus stops?
Pedestrians may step out from in front of a bus. The Highway Code, rule 206, says to drive carefully and slowly past bus and tram stops.
Compare with
Bus lane signA lane for buses, and any vehicles shown.
No stopping (clearway) signNo stopping at all, not even to drop off.
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 4 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (bus and cycle signs and road markings) and The Highway Code rules 243 and 206.
- Know your traffic signs: bus and cycle signs and road markings, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 243, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 206, GOV.UK
- Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.