Do Not Block Intersection Sign: Meaning and What to Do
The white rectangle reading DO NOT BLOCK INTERSECTION states a rule that applies everywhere, posted where drivers most often break it: you may not enter an intersection unless there is room on the far side to clear it. A green light is not permission to stop in the middle of the crossing.
Do Not Block Intersection Sign
Gridlock starts with one driver who enters on green and gets stuck when traffic ahead does not move. When the light changes, cross traffic cannot get through, and the jam spreads block by block. Many cities paint the intersection with a hatched box for the same reason.
What to do when you see the do not block intersection sign
Before entering an intersection, look past it. If traffic ahead is stopped and your vehicle would end up sitting in the crossing, stay behind the stop line and wait, even on green. Enter only when you can drive all the way through.
The signs it is confused with
Tests pair it with Stop Here on Red, which sets where to stop at a signal, and with scenario questions about what a green light permits. The sign does not change right of way; it removes the excuse that the light was green.
Signs are one topic of ten on every test
Every state practice test covers signs, signals, and markings among its ten topics, with every answer explained. Pick your state and see how its exam asks about signs like this one; it is free, with no sign-up.
Choose your stateQuestions about the do not block intersection sign
What does do not block intersection mean?
Do not enter the intersection unless you can clear it. If traffic beyond is backed up, wait behind the line even if your light is green.
Is blocking an intersection illegal without the sign?
Yes, in every state. The sign is a reminder at intersections where backups are common, not the source of the rule.
What if I entered on green and traffic stopped ahead of me?
That is the situation the rule prevents. You are expected to judge the far side before entering, so a green light with no space to clear means wait.
What is the painted box at some intersections?
A hatched keep-clear marking that shows the area you must not stop in. It carries the same rule as the sign.
How does this sign appear on the written test?
In a scenario: the light is green, traffic ahead is stopped, what do you do? The answer is to wait behind the line until you can clear the intersection.