Side road sign: what it means
The Side Road sign warns that a road joins yours from the side shown ahead. Vehicles may turn in or out.
What does the side road sign mean?
MUTCD Section 2C.41 says intersection warning signs such as Side Road may be used to show an intersection ahead and the possibility of turning or entering traffic.
Quick quiz
What does the sign at the top of this page mean?
- A side road joins from the side shown.
- Another road crosses yours ahead.
- Traffic will merge into your lane.
Show answer
A. A side road joins from the side shown. An intersection ahead, with a side road and possible turning or entering traffic (MUTCD Section 2C.41). Source: MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Section 2C.41, FHWA; MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA
Where will you see it?
Before side roads that are hard to see, often on rural highways and around curves or hills.
What should you do?
Slow down and watch for vehicles entering, slowing to turn or pulling out. Be ready to brake.
What do people get wrong?
Passing near the side road. A car ahead may slow down to turn, or a car may pull out.
Common questions
Does the side road have to stop?
The warning sign does not say. Often the side road has a STOP or YIELD sign, but be ready in case a driver pulls out.
How is it different from the Crossroad sign?
On a Crossroad sign, a road crosses yours. On a Side Road sign it joins from one side.
Compare with
Want to test someone else? Play a road-sign quiz with friends and family.
Sources
Checked on 3 November 2026 against the MUTCD 11th Edition (FHWA), Section 2C.41.
- MUTCD 11th Edition, Chapter 2C, Warning Signs and Object Markers: Section 2C.41, FHWA
- MUTCD 11th Edition, FHWA. FHWA lists the current version as the 11th Edition with Revision 1, dated December 2025
Sign pictures are our own simplified drawings of the MUTCD designs, which are in the public domain (MUTCD Section 1D.06). Sources and image credits.