Road signs/Merge Sign
Merge Sign: what it means and what to do
A merge sign means traffic from another road or ramp may merge into your lane ahead. Traffic already on the main road has the right of way, and entering traffic must yield to it.
What it looks like
A yellow diamond with a black symbol of a side lane joining the main road.
What to do
- Check your mirror and, if it is safe, move over to give merging drivers room.
- If you are the one merging, match the speed of traffic and yield to vehicles already on the road.
- Do not speed up to block a merging car. Everyone arrives sooner when traffic flows.
On the permit test
Tests show the merge symbol and ask who yields (the entering traffic does).
Where it shows up on state tests
16 questions across our state banks show this sign. Here is how many each bank has, and what each state's own test rules say about road signs.
| State | Questions showing it | What the state says about signs |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 2 | Two separate tests: road signs (20 questions) and road rules (20 questions). |
| Illinois | 1 | 15 of the 35 questions are traffic-sign identification; the other 20 are multiple-choice or true/false. |
| North Carolina | 2 | Separate road-signs test: identify at least 9 of 12 signs. |
| New Jersey | 2 | No separate sign section published. |
| New York | 2 | 4 of the 20 questions are about road signs, and at least 2 of those 4 must be correct — even with 14 right overall. |
| Ohio | 2 | 40 multiple-choice questions on motor vehicle regulations and traffic signs. |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | No separate sign section published. |
| Texas | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
| Virginia | 1 | Part one is 10 traffic-sign questions and you must answer all 10 correctly before part two opens. |
| Washington | 1 | No separate sign section published. |
How it differs from similar signs
| Sign | How to recognise it | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Merge Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign showing a lane merging into the main road | A merge sign means traffic from another road or ramp may merge into your lane ahead. |
| Side Road Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign showing a side road joining from the right | A side road sign means a smaller road joins yours ahead, on the side shown on the sign. |
| Y Intersection Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign with a black Y-shaped intersection symbol | A Y intersection sign means the road ahead forks into two roads, or another road joins at an angle. |
| Two-Way Traffic Sign | Yellow diamond warning sign with one arrow pointing up and one pointing down | A two-way traffic sign means a one-way street or roadway ends ahead and you will then share the road with oncoming traffic. |
See them side by side
Common questions
Traffic already on the main road. Drivers entering from the ramp or side road must yield.
All road signs Practice your state’s permit test free
Sources, checked 2026-10-08: Pennsylvania Driver's Manual (PUB 95), Chapter 2: Signals, Signs and Pavement Markings; Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (FHWA). Written in our own words; follow your state’s manual for the exact wording.