Yellow box junction: what it means
A yellow box junction means you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. If you are turning right, you may wait in it while oncoming traffic stops you.
What it means
Rule 174: you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. However, you may enter the box and wait when you want to turn right and are only stopped from doing so by oncoming traffic, or by other vehicles waiting to turn right.
At signalled roundabouts you must not enter the box unless you can cross over it completely without stopping.
Quick quiz
Your light is green, but a queue fills the road beyond the yellow box. You want to go straight on. What should you do?
- Enter and wait in the box
- Wait until your exit is clear
- Follow the car in front closely
Show answer
B. Wait until your exit is clear. Rule 174: you must not enter the box until your exit road or lane is clear. The waiting exception is only for turning right. Source: The Highway Code, rule 174, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: road markings, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: road markings, GOV.UK
Where you see it
At junctions where stationary traffic would be likely to block the junction (Know your traffic signs), often at traffic lights.
A common mistake
Going in because the light is green. A green light does not clear a blocked exit, so wait behind the box until you can get across.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
(3)
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The diagram at the top is our own simplified drawing, not to scale. The other sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.