Road sign R-3: Priority road

What it means

«Indica a los conductores de los vehículos que circulen por una calzada su prioridad en las intersecciones sobre los vehículos que circulen por otra calzada o procedan de ella.» RD 465/2025, Annex I of the RGC (BOE-A-2025-12199), Spanish original.

It tells you that your carriageway has priority at junctions over the one that crosses or joins it. It gives precedence over any road that joins, whether or not the other road is signed (RGC art. 56.4).

Where you meet it

You see it on the road with priority. It works alongside the give way or stop signs on the minor road: both say the same from two sides, and whoever is on the priority road goes first, whatever type of vehicle they drive.

What you must do

With the sign in force, you go first at the next junction, but only against vehicles on the other carriageway and at that specific junction, not against every road user nor all along the route (RD 465/2025 catalogue).

Details that count

When two signs clash, it is not settled by intuition: between different types the order of precedence rules, and between signs of the same type the more restrictive one rules (RGC art. 133.2). Remember the class too: warning signs flag a risk that is hard to see in time; regulation signs, like this one, impose obligations, limits or prohibitions (RGC arts. 144 to 146).

What it is confused with

It is confused with R-4, «End of priority», its twin with an opposite drawing: R-3 states the priority of your carriageway; R-4 announces exactly the opposite, that the priority is about to be lost. And it is not P-1: the triangle only warns of the junction, while R-3 regulates.

Related signs

• R-4: End of priority
• R-1: Give way
• R-2: Stop
• P-1: Junction with priority

Studied in topic 27: Priority and roundabouts.

Source: RGC arts. 56.4, 133.2, 144 to 146; RGC Annex I, sign R-3 (RD 465/2025).