Yield Sign

While Yield Signs are found all over the United States at various junctures, the meaning and purpose of this simple sign is often missed by the driving public. For as common as they are, Yield Signs are far less ubiquitous than, say, Stop Signs, and thus motorists aren’t always sure what to do when they encounter them. Do they stop, no matter what? Must they bring their vehicles to a pause, even if no cars are coming from the other direction? These signs are usually part of any comprehensive driving exam, but you can of course miss a few questions and still get your license. We’re going to talk a little bit about the importance of the Yield Sign, why it matters, and when you should put one up. And maybe we’ll get to the bottom of just what you should do when you encounter a Yield Sign in traffic.

When to Use the Yield Sign

If you’re designing a roadway or deliberating about what signage you need to put up, you need to know when and why to use the Yield Sign. Put simply, these signs tell motorists that they should slow down (and even stop) when merging into a roadway already in progress. These signs are used when there is no “open lane” for the merging drivers to use. When those lanes are present, drivers can join the highway without disturbing the flow of traffic. When they aren’t, a merge scenario is necessary and the driver should be advised to yield if they cannot find a hole in the traffic. On the other hand, if no traffic is present in the oncoming roadway, the merging driver does not need to stop.

Make Things Easier on Area Drivers

We probably don’t need to explain this, but there are a lot of frazzled drivers out there. We’d be willing to bet that you’ve encountered a few of them – maybe even today! If we were to inquire more deeply, we’d probably find out that you have been one of those frazzled drivers yourself at some point. We know we have. And if there’s anything that tweaks our stress levels more than being lost in a new city, it’s encountering traffic situations where there is no clear signage explaining what to do. Whose turn is it? Why are there no lights? Where is THAT guy going? Don’t leave your area drivers confused and stressed: Give them Yield Signs and other helpful directives that put them back in control.

Do You Need a Yield Sign on Your Property?

Yield Signs are frequently used by cities and government agencies when designing public roadways, but they also play a role in many private property situations. If you run a business with a large parking lot or you’re in charge of an organization with private roads and traffic, you’ll need to use the same tricks of the trade that are implemented out on the highways. This includes using Yield Signs when you have merging scenarios or traffic flowing from an unusual direction. The more signage you can post, the more comfortable your guests and customers will be on your property.