Side road sign: what it means
The side road sign warns that a side road joins your road ahead, here from the right. You are on the main road, but traffic may come out of the side road.
What does the side road sign mean?
Know your traffic signs lists it as “side road” among the junction warnings. The thicker line is your road, the thinner one the side road.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- A side road joins from one side ahead.
- Your road ends at a T-junction ahead.
- A crossroads is ahead.
Show answer
A. A side road joins from one side ahead. A side road joins the road ahead (Know your traffic signs). Source: Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 146, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 167, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK
Where will you see it?
Before minor roads, lanes and entrances that join a main road, often where the junction is hard to see.
What should you do?
Check your speed and look for vehicles pulling out. Be ready to slow down. If you are turning into the side road, check your mirrors and signal in good time. Rule 146 says to be prepared for road users emerging.
What do people get wrong?
Overtaking just before the side road. A vehicle may turn into it or pull out of it in front of you.
Common questions
Does the side road sign give me priority?
The broader line shows the main road, which normally has priority, but always be ready for someone pulling out.
How is it different from the T-junction sign?
On a T-junction sign your road ends. On the side road sign your road carries on and another road joins it.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against Know your traffic signs (warning signs) and The Highway Code rules 146 and 167.
- Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 146, GOV.UK
- The Highway Code, rule 167, 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.