Distance to GIVE WAY line sign: what it means

What does the distance to GIVE WAY line sign mean?

Know your traffic signs lists it as “distance to GIVE WAY line”. At the line you must give way to traffic on the major road.

Quick quiz

Where will you see it?

Before junctions with a give way sign, especially where the junction is hidden.

What should you do?

Slow down, look for traffic on the major road and be ready to stop at the line.

What do people get wrong?

Keeping your speed up because you can see no traffic yet. The junction may be closer than it looks.

Common questions

Must I stop at the give way line?

Only if you need to. You must give way to traffic on the major road, so stop if anything is coming.

Is this a regulatory sign?

No. The plate warns of the distance. The give way sign and lines further on are the orders.

Compare with

• Give way signLet traffic on the major road go first.
• Distance to STOP line signA STOP sign and line are this far ahead.

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 (warning signs; regulatory signs).

1. Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
2. Know your traffic signs: regulatory signs, GOV.UK
3. 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.